Method and apparatus for body fluid sampling with hybrid actuation

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, a body fluid sampling device is provided using a penetrating member to extract fluid from an anatomical feature. The device comprises a penetrating member actuator for moving the penetrating member inbound towards the anatomical feature and a non-spring based, penetrating member retractor for moving the penetrating member outbound away from the anatomical feature. The penetrating member actuator may be adapted to move the penetrating member at a velocity greater than a velocity achieved by the penetrating member retractor.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned,copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No.38187-2609) filed on Dec. 18, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part ofcommonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/127,395(Attorney Docket No. 38187-2551) filed Apr. 19, 2002. This applicationis also a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned, copending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/237,261 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2595)filed Sep. 5, 2002. This application is further a continuation-in-partof commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______(Attorney Docket No. 38187-2664) filed Apr. 21, 2003. This applicationis further a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned, copending U.S.patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2657)filed Apr. 24, 2003. This application also claims the benefit ofpriority from commonly assigned, copending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/393,706 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-P2589) filedJul. 1, 2002; commonly assigned, copending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/393,707 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-P2590) filedJul. 1, 2002; commonly assigned, copending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/422,988 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2601) filedNov. 1, 2002; commonly assigned, copending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/424,429 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2602) filedNov. 6, 2002; and commonly assigned, copending U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/424,429 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2604) filedNov. 20, 2002. All applications listed above are incorporated herein byreference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Lancing devices are known in the medical health-care productsindustry for piercing the skin to produce blood for analysis. Typically,a drop of blood for this type of analysis is obtained by making a smallincision in the fingertip, creating a small wound, which generates asmall blood droplet on the surface of the skin.

[0003] Early methods of lancing included piercing or slicing the skinwith a needle or razor. Current methods utilize lancing devices thatcontain a multitude of spring, cam and mass actuators to drive thelancet. These include cantilever springs, diaphragms, coil springs, aswell as gravity plumbs used to drive the lancet. The device may be heldagainst the skin and mechanically triggered to ballistically launch thelancet. Unfortunately, the pain associated with each lancing event usingknown technology discourages patients from testing. In addition tovibratory stimulation of the skin as the driver impacts the end of alauncher stop, known spring based devices have the possibility of firinglancets that harmonically oscillate against the patient tissue, causingmultiple strikes due to recoil. This recoil and multiple strikes of thelancet is one major impediment to patient compliance with a structuredglucose monitoring regime.

[0004] Another impediment to patient compliance is the lack ofspontaneous blood flow generated by known lancing technology. Inaddition to the pain as discussed above, a patient may need more thanone lancing event to obtain a blood sample since spontaneous bloodgeneration is unreliable using known lancing technology. Thus the painis multiplied by the number of attempts required by a patient tosuccessfully generate spontaneous blood flow. Different skin thicknessmay yield different results in terms of pain perception, blood yield andsuccess rate of obtaining blood between different users of the lancingdevice. Known devices poorly account for these skin thicknessvariations.

[0005] A still further impediment to improved compliance with glucosemonitoring are the many steps and inconvenience associated with eachlancing event. Many diabetic patients that are insulin dependent mayneed to self-test for blood glucose levels five to six times daily. Thelarge number of steps required in traditional methods of glucosetesting, ranging from lancing, to milking of blood, applying blood to atest strip, and getting the measurements from the test strip,discourages many diabetic patients from testing their blood glucoselevels as often as recommended. Older patients and those withdeteriorating motor skills encounter difficulty loading lancets intolauncher devices, transferring blood onto a test strip, or insertingthin test strips into slots on glucose measurement meters. Additionally,the wound channel left on the patient by known systems may also be of asize that discourages those who are active with their hands or who areworried about healing of those wound channels from testing their glucoselevels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides solutions for at least some of thedrawbacks discussed above. Specifically, some embodiments of the presentinvention provide a multiple lancet solution to measuring analyte levelsin the body. The invention may use a high density design. The inventionmay provide an indicator of the point of impact of a lancet orpenetrating member used to sample fluid from tissue. At least some ofthese and other objectives described herein will be met by embodimentsof the present invention.

[0007] In one aspect, a body fluid sampling device is provided using apenetrating member to extract fluid from an anatomical feature. Thedevice comprises a penetrating member actuator for moving thepenetrating member inbound towards the anatomical feature and anon-spring based, penetrating member retractor for moving thepenetrating member outbound away from the anatomical feature. Thepenetrating member actuator may be adapted to move the penetratingmember at a velocity greater than a velocity achieved by the penetratingmember retractor.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, a body fluidsampling device is provided for extracting bodily fluid from ananatomical feature. The device comprises a cartridge having a pluralityof cavities. The device may also include a plurality of penetratingmembers, each slidably movable between a first position and a secondposition to extend outward from the cartridge to penetrate theanatomical feature. The device may further include a penetrating memberdriver structured to selectively and independently engage thepenetrating members, the driver comprising a first resilient member formoving an active one of the penetrating members on an inbound pathtoward the anatomical feature to create a wound, and a second resilientmember for moving the active one of the penetrating members on anoutbound path away from the wound.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, a body fluid sampling device isprovided using a penetrating member to extract fluid from an anatomicalfeature. The device comprises a penetrating member driver, the driverselected from one of the following: a motor and gear box, a nanomuscle,pneumatic device, a liquid magnetic coil actuation device, a steppermotor, a micro-clutch device, and an inductive motor. The device mayalso include a penetrating coupler attached to the driver, the couplerfor releasably connecting the penetrating member to the driver.

[0010] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of theinvention will become apparent by reference to the remaining portions ofthe specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a system, according toan embodiment for use in piercing skin to obtain a blood sample;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a replaceable penetratingmember cartridge forming part of the system;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional end view on 3-3 in FIG. 2;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional end view on 4-4 in FIG. 2;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus forming part of thesystem and used for manipulating components of the cartridge,illustrating pivoting of a penetrating member accelerator in a downwarddirection;

[0016]FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating how thecartridge is rotated or advanced;

[0017]FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view illustrating how thepenetrating member accelerator allows for the cartridge to be advanced;

[0018]FIGS. 7A and 7B are views similar to FIGS. 6A and 6B,respectively, illustrating pivoting of the penetrating memberaccelerator in an opposite direction to engage with a select one of thepenetrating members in the cartridge;

[0019]FIGS. 8A and 8B are views similar to FIGS. 7A and 7B,respectively, illustrating how the penetrating member accelerator movesthe selected penetrating member to pierce skin;

[0020]FIGS. 9A and 9B are views similar to FIGS. 8A and 8B,respectively, illustrating how the penetrating member acceleratorreturns the penetrating member to its original position;

[0021]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating functional components ofthe apparatus; and

[0022]FIG. 11 is an end view illustrating a cartridge according to anoptional embodiment that allows for better adhesion of sterilizationbarriers.

[0023]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment having featuresof the invention.

[0024]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment having featuresof the invention in operation.

[0025]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a low-frictioncoating applied to one penetrating member contact surface.

[0026]FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a coating appliedto one penetrating member contact surface which increases friction andimproves the microscopic contact area between the penetrating member andthe penetrating member contact surface.

[0027]FIG. 16 illustrates a portion of a penetrating member cartridgehaving an annular configuration with a plurality of radially orientedpenetrating member slots and a distal edge of a drive member disposed inone of the penetrating member slots.

[0028]FIG. 17 is an elevational view in partial longitudinal section ofa coated penetrating member in contact with a coated penetrating membercontact surface.

[0029]FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of a lancing device havingfeatures of the invention.

[0030]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a portion of a penetrating membercartridge base plate having a plurality of penetrating member slots anddrive member guide slots disposed radially inward of and aligned withthe penetrating member slots.

[0031] FIGS. 20-22 illustrate a penetrating member cartridge in section,a drive member, a penetrating member and the tip of a patient's fingerduring three sequential phases of a lancing cycle.

[0032]FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of a penetrating membercartridge having features of the invention.

[0033]FIG. 24 is an exploded view of a portion of the penetrating membercartridge of FIG. 12.

[0034]FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate a multiple layer sterility barrierdisposed over a penetrating member slot being penetrated by the distalend of a penetrating member during a lancing cycle.

[0035]FIGS. 27 and 28 illustrate an embodiment of a drive member coupledto a driver wherein the drive member includes a cutting member having asharpened edge which is configured to cut through a sterility barrier ofa penetrating member slot during a lancing cycle in order for the drivemember to make contact with the penetrating member.

[0036]FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate an embodiment of a penetrating memberslot in longitudinal section having a ramped portion disposed at adistal end of the penetrating member slot and a drive member with acutting edge at a distal end thereof for cutting through a sterilitybarrier during a lancing cycle.

[0037] FIGS. 31-34 illustrate drive member slots in a penetrating membercartridge wherein at least a portion of the drive member slots have atapered opening which is larger in transverse dimension at the top ofthe drive member slot than at the bottom of the drive member slot.

[0038] FIGS. 35-37 illustrate an embodiment of a penetrating membercartridge and penetrating member drive member wherein the penetratingmember drive member has a contoured jaws configured to grip apenetrating member shaft.

[0039]FIGS. 38 and 39 show a portion of a lancing device having a lidthat can be opened to expose a penetrating member cartridge cavity forremoval of a used penetrating member cartridge and insertion of a newpenetrating member cartridge.

[0040]FIGS. 40 and 41 illustrate a penetrating member cartridge that haspenetrating member slots on both sides.

[0041] FIGS. 42-44 illustrate end and perspective views of a penetratingmember cartridge having a plurality of penetrating member slots formedfrom a corrugated surface of the penetrating member cartridge.

[0042] FIGS. 45-48 illustrate embodiments of a penetrating member anddrive member wherein the penetrating member has a slotted shaft and thedrive member has a protuberance configured to mate with the slot in thepenetrating member shaft.

[0043]FIG. 49 is a perspective view of a cartridge according to thepresent invention.

[0044]FIGS. 50 and 51 show close-ups of outer peripheries variouscartridges.

[0045]FIG. 52 is a perspective view of an underside of a cartridge.

[0046]FIG. 53A shows a top down view of a cartridge and the punch andpusher devices.

[0047]FIG. 53B is a perspective view of one embodiment of a punch plate.

[0048] FIGS. 54A-54G show a sequence of motion for the punch plate, thecartridge, and the cartridge pusher.

[0049] FIGS. 55A-55B show cross-sections of the system according to thepresent invention.

[0050]FIG. 56A shows a perspective view of the system according to thepresent invention.

[0051] FIGS. 56B-56D are cut-away views showing mechanisms within thepresent invention.

[0052] FIGS. 57-65B show optional embodiments according to the presentinvention.

[0053] FIGS. 66-68 shows a still further embodiment of a cartridgeaccording to the present invention.

[0054] FIGS. 69A-69L show the sequence of motions associated with anoptional embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention,

[0055] FIGS. 70-72 show views of a sample modules used with stillfurther embodiments of a cartridge according to the present invention.

[0056]FIG. 73 shows a cartridge with a sterility barrier and an analytedetecting member layer.

[0057] FIGS. 74-78 show still further embodiments of analyte detectingmembers coupled to a cartridge.

[0058] FIGS. 79-84 show optional configurations for a cartridge for usewith the present invention.

[0059]FIG. 85 shows a see-through view of one embodiment of a systemaccording to the present invention.

[0060]FIG. 86 is a schematic of an optional embodiment of a systemaccording to the present invention.

[0061] FIGS. 87A-87B show still further embodiments of cartridgesaccording to the present invention.

[0062]FIG. 88 shows a cartridge having an array of analyte detectingmembers.

[0063] FIGS. 89-90 show embodiments of illumination systems for use withthe present invention.

[0064] FIGS. 91-96 show further embodiments using optical methods foranalyte detection.

[0065]FIG. 97 shows a chart of varying penetrating member velocity indifferent parts of the tissue.

[0066]FIGS. 98 and 99 show schematic views of penetrating member driversaccording to the present invention.

[0067]FIG. 100 shows a penetrating member driver according to thepresent invention for use with a cartridge containing a plurality ofpenetrating members.

[0068]FIGS. 101 and 102 show a penetrating member driver using amagnetically controllable fluid device.

[0069] FIGS. 103-104 show embodiments of an improved penetrating member.

[0070] FIGS. 105-109 shows a penetrating member driver using a springand a non-spring based retractor device.

[0071]FIG. 110 shows an embodiment of a damper according to the presentinvention.

[0072] FIGS. 111-116 shows a cartridge and a penetrating member driveraccording to the present invention.

[0073]FIGS. 117 and 118 show penetrating member drivers according to thepresent invention.

[0074] FIGS. 119-120 show a depth setting device according to thepresent invention.

[0075]FIG. 121 shows a cam groove according to the present invention.

[0076] FIGS. 122-124 show various penetrating member devices accordingto the present invention.

[0077] FIGS. 125-126 show kits according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0078] The present invention provides a multiple analyte detectingmember solution for body fluid sampling. Specifically, some embodimentsof the present invention provides a multiple analyte detecting memberand multiple lancet solution to measuring analyte levels in the body.The invention may use a high density design. It may use lancets ofsmaller size, such as but not limited to diameter or length, than knownlancets. The device may be used for multiple lancing events withouthaving to remove a disposable from the device. The invention may provideimproved sensing capabilities. At least some of these and otherobjectives described herein will be met by embodiments of the presentinvention.

[0079] It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referentsunless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example,reference to “a material” may include mixtures of materials, referenceto “a chamber” may include multiple chambers, and the like. Referencescited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety,except to the extent that they conflict with teachings explicitly setforth in this specification.

[0080] In this specification and in the claims which follow, referencewill be made to a number of terms which shall be defined to have thefollowing meanings:

[0081] “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently describedcircumstance may or may not occur, so that the description includesinstances where the circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.For example, if a device optionally contains a feature for analyzing ablood sample, this means that the analysis feature may or may not bepresent, and, thus, the description includes structures wherein a devicepossesses the analysis feature and structures wherein the analysisfeature is not present.

[0082] “Analyte detecting member” refers to any use, singly or incombination, of chemical test reagents and methods, electrical testcircuits and methods, physical test components and methods, optical testcomponents and methods, and biological test reagents and methods toyield information about a blood sample. Such methods are well known inthe art and may be based on teachings of, e.g. Tietz Textbook ofClinical Chemistry, 3d Ed., Sec. V, pp. 776-78 (Burtis & Ashwood, Eds.,W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 1999); U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,817 toChrismore et al. (Dec. 7, 1999); U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,394 to Phillips etal. (Oct. 22, 1991); U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,054 to Wagner et al. (Mar. 19,1991); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,933 to Nakamura et al. (Jul. 12, 1983),the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference, as well asothers. Analyte detecting member may include tests in the sample testchamber that test electrochemical properties of the blood, or they mayinclude optical means for sensing optical properties of the blood (e.g.oxygen saturation level), or they may include biochemical reagents (e.g.antibodies) to sense properties (e.g. presence of antigens) of theblood. The analyte detecting member may comprise biosensing or reagentmaterial that will react with an analyte in blood (e.g. glucose) orother body fluid so that an appropriate signal correlating with thepresence of the analyte is generated and can be read by the readerapparatus. By way of example and not limitation, analyte detectingmember may be “associated with”, “mounted within”, or “coupled to” achamber or other structure when the analyte detecting memberparticipates in the function of providing an appropriate signal aboutthe blood sample to the reader device. Analyte detecting member may alsoinclude nanowire analyte detecting members as described herein. Analytedetecting member may use any, singly or in combination, potentiometric,coulometric, or other method useful for detection of analyte levels.

[0083] FIGS. 1-11 of the accompanying drawings illustrates oneembodiment of a system 10 for piercing tissue to obtain a blood sample.The system 10 may include a replaceable cartridge 12 and an apparatus 14for removably receiving the cartridge 12 and for manipulating componentsof the cartridge 12.

[0084] Referring jointly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cartridge 12 may includea plurality of penetrating members 18. The cartridge 12 may be in theform of a circular disc and has an outer circular surface 20 and anopening forming an inner circular surface 22. A plurality of grooves 24are formed in a planar surface 26 of the cartridge 12. Each groove 24 iselongated and extends radially out from a center point of the cartridge12. Each groove 24 is formed through the outer circular surface 20.Although not shown, it should be understood that the grooves 24 areformed over the entire circumference of the planar surface 26. As shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, each groove 24 is relatively narrow closer to thecenter point of the cartridge 12 and slightly wider further from thecenter point. These grooves 24 may be molded into the cartridge 12,machined into the cartridge, forged, pressed, or formed using othermethods useful in the manufacture of medical devices.

[0085] In the present embodiment, each penetrating member 18 has anelongated body 26 and a sharpened distal end 27 having a sharp tip 30.The penetrating member 18 may have a circular cross-section with adiameter in this embodiment of about 0.315 mm. All outer surfaces of thepenetrating member 18 may have the same coefficient of friction.

[0086] The penetrating member may be, but is not necessarily, a barelancet. The lancet is “bare”, in the sense that no raised formations ormolded parts are formed thereon that are complementarily engageable withanother structure. Traditional lancets include large plastic moldedparts that are used to facilitate engagement. Unfortunately, suchattachments add size and cost. In the most basic sense, a bare lancet orbare penetrating member is an elongate wire having sharpened end. If itis of sufficiently small diameter, the tip may be penetrating withouthaving to be sharpened. A bare lancet may be bent and still beconsidered a bare lancet. The bare lancet in one embodiment may be madeof one material.

[0087] In the present embodiment, each penetrating member 18 is locatedin a respective one of the grooves 24. The penetrating members 18 havetheir sharpened distal ends 27 pointed radially out from the centerpoint of the cartridge 12. A proximal end of each penetrating member 15may engage in an interference fit with opposing sides of a respectivegroove 24 as shown in FIG. 3. Other embodiments of the cartridge 12 maynot use such an interference fit. As a nonlimiting example, they may usea fracturable adhesive to releasably secure the penetrating member 18 tothe cartridge 12. As shown in FIG. 4, more distal portions of thepenetrating member 18 are not engaged with the opposing sides of thegroove 24 due to the larger spacing between the sides.

[0088] The cartridge 12 may further include a sterilization barrier 28attached to the upper surface 26. The sterilization barrier 28 islocated over the penetrating members 18 and serves to insulate thepenetrating members 18 from external contaminants. The sterilizationbarrier 28 is made of a material that can easily be broken when an edgeof a device applies a force thereto. The sterilization barrier 28 aloneor in combination with other barriers may be used to create a sterileenvironment about at least the tip of the penetrating member prior tolancing or actuation. The sterilization barrier 28 may be made of avariety of materials such as but not limited to metallic foil, aluminumfoil, paper, polymeric material, or laminates combining any of theabove. Other details of the sterilization barrier are detailed herein.

[0089] In the present embodiment, the apparatus 14 may include a housing30, an initiator button 32, a penetrating member movement subassembly34, a cartridge advance subassembly 36, batteries 38, a capacitor 40, amicroprocessor controller 42, and switches 44. The housing 30 may have alower portion 46 and a lid 48. The lid 48 is secured to the lowerportion 46 with a hinge 50. The lower portion 46 may have a recess 52. Acircular opening 54 in the lower portion 46 defines an outer boundary ofthe recess 52 and a level platform 56 of the lower portion 46 defines abase of the recess 52.

[0090] In use, the lid 48 of the present embodiment is pivoted into aposition as shown in FIG. 1. The cartridge 12 is flipped over andpositioned in the recess 52. The planar surface 26 rests against thelevel platform 56 and the circular opening 54 contacts the outercircular surface 20 to prevent movement of the cartridge 12 in a planethereof. The lid 48 is then pivoted in a direction 60 and closes thecartridge 12.

[0091] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the penetratingmember movement subassembly 34 includes a lever 62, a penetrating memberaccelerator 64, a linear actuator 66, and a spring 68. Other suitableactuators including but not limited to rotary actuators are described incommonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/127,395(Attorney Docket No. 38187-2551) filed Apr. 19, 2002. The lever 62 maybe pivotably secured to the lower portion 46. The button 32 is locatedin an accessible position external of the lower portion 46 and isconnected by a shaft 70 through the lower portion 46 to one end of thelever 62. The penetrating member accelerator 64 is mounted to anopposing end of the lever 62. A user depresses the button 32 in anupward direction 66 so that the shaft 70 pivots the end of the lever 62to which it is connected in an upward direction. The opposing end of thelever pivots in a downward direction 66. The spring 46 is positionedbetween the button 32 and the base 40 and compresses when the button 32is depressed to create a force that tends to move the button 32 down andpivot the penetrating member accelerator upward in a direction oppositeto the direction 64.

[0092] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B in this particular embodiment, themovement of the button into the position shown in FIG. 5 also causescontact between a terminal 74 on the shaft 20 with a terminal 70 securedto the lower portion 46. Contact between the terminals 74 and 76indicates that the button 32 has been fully depressed. With the button32 depressed, the cartridge 12 can be rotated without interference bythe penetrating member actuator 64. To this effect, the cartridgeadvancer subsystem 36 includes a pinion gear 80 and a stepper motor 82.The stepper motor 82 is secured to the lower portion 46. The pinion gear80 is secured to the stepper motor 82 and is rotated by the steppermotor 82. Teeth on the pinion gear 80 engage with teeth on the innercircular surface 22 of the cartridge 12. Rotation of the pinion gear 80causes rotation of the cartridge 12 about the center point thereof. Eachtime that the terminals 74 and 76 make contact, the stepper motor 82 isoperated to rotate the cartridge 12 through a discrete angle equal to anangular spacing from a centerline of one of the penetrating members 18to a centerline of an adjacent penetrating member. A select penetratingmember 18 is so moved over the penetrating member accelerator 64, asshown in FIG. 6B. Subsequent depressions of the button 32 will causerotation of subsequent adjacent penetrating members 18 into a positionover the penetrating member accelerator 64.

[0093] The user then releases pressure from the button, as shown in FIG.7A. The force created by the spring 68 or other resilient member movesthe button 32 in a downward direction 76. The shaft 70 is pivotablysecured to the lever 62 so that the shaft 70 moves the end of the lever62 to which it is connected down. The opposite end of the lever 62pivots the penetrating member accelerator 64 upward in a direction 80.As shown in FIG. 7B, an edge 82 of the penetrating member accelerator 64breaks through a portion of the sterilization barrier 28 and comes in tophysical contact with a lower side surface of the penetrating member 18.

[0094] Referring to FIG. 8A, the linear actuator 66 includes separateadvancing coils 86A and retracting coils 86B, and a magnetizable slug 90within the coils 86A and 86B.

[0095] The coils 86A and 86B are secured to the lower portion of 46, andthe slug 90 can move within the coils 86A and 88B. Once the penetratingmember accelerator 64 is located in the position shown in FIGS. 7A and7B, electric current is provided to the advancing coils 86 only. Thecurrent in the advancing coils 86 creates a force in a direction 88 onthe slug 90 according to conventional principles relating toelectromagnetics.

[0096] A bearing 91 is secured to the lever and the penetrating memberaccelerator 64 has a slot 92 over the bearing 91. The slot 92 allows forthe movement of the penetrating member accelerator 64 in the direction88 relative to the lever 62, so that the force created on the slug movesthe penetrating member accelerator 64 in the direction 88.

[0097] The spring 68 is not entirely relaxed, so that the spring 68,through the lever 62, biases the penetrating member accelerator 64against the lower side surface of the penetrating member 18 with a forceF1. The penetrating member 18 rests against a base 88 of the cartridge12. An equal and opposing force F2 is created by the base 88 on an upperside surface of the penetrating member 18.

[0098] The edge 82 of the penetrating member accelerator 64 has a muchhigher coefficient of friction than the base 88 of the cartridge 12. Thehigher coefficient of friction of the edge contributes to a relativelyhigh friction force F3 on the lower side surface of the penetratingmember 18. The relatively low coefficient of friction of the base 88creates a relatively small friction force F4 on the upper side surfaceof the penetrating member 18. A difference between the force F3 and F4is a resultant force that accelerates the penetrating member in thedirection 88 relative to the cartridge 12. The penetrating member ismoved out of the interference fit illustrated in FIG. 3. The barepenetrating member 18 is moved without the need for any engagementformations on the penetrating member. Current devices, in contrast,often make use a plastic body molded onto each penetrating member to aidin manipulating the penetrating members. Movement of the penetratingmember 18 moves the sharpened end thereof through an opening 90 in aside of the lower portion 46. The sharp end 30 of the penetrating member18 is thereby moved from a retracted and safe position within the lowerportion 46 into a position wherein it extends out of the opening 90.Accelerated, high-speed movement of the penetrating member is used sothat the sharp tip 30 penetrates skin of a person. A blood sample canthen be taken from the person, typically for diabetic analysis.

[0099] Reference is now made to FIGS. 9A and 9B. After the penetratingmember is accelerated (for example, but not limitation, less than 0.25seconds thereafter), the current to the accelerating coils 86A is turnedoff and the current is provided to the retracting coils 86B. The slug 90moves in an opposite direction 92 together with the penetrating memberaccelerator 64. The penetrating member accelerator 64 then returns theused penetrating member into its original position, i.e., the same asshown in FIG. 7B.

[0100] Subsequent depression of the button as shown in FIG. 5 will thencause one repetition of the process described, but with an adjacentsterile penetrating member. Subsequent sterile penetrating members canso be used until all the penetrating members have been used, i.e., afterone complete revolution of the cartridge 12. In this embodiment, asecond revolution of the cartridge 12 is disallowed to prevent the useof penetrating members that have been used in a previous revolution andhave become contaminated. The only way in which the user can continue touse the apparatus 14 is by opening ‘the lid 48 as shown in FIG. 1,removing the used cartridge 12, and replacing the used cartridge withanother cartridge. A detector (not shown) detects whenever a cartridgeis removed and replaced with another cartridge. Such a detector may bebut is not limited to an optical sensor, an electrical contact sensor, abar code reader, or the like.

[0101]FIG. 10 illustrates the manner in which the electrical componentsmay be functionally interconnected for the present embodiment. Thebattery 38 provides power to the capacitor 40 and the controller 42. Theterminal 76 is connected to the controller 42 so that the controllerrecognizes when the button 32 is depressed. The capacitor to providepower (electric potential and current) individually through the switches(such as field-effect transistors) to the advancing coils 86A,retracting coils 86B and the stepper motor 82. The switches 44A, B, andC are all under the control of the controller 42. A memory 100 isconnected to the controller. A set of instructions is stored in thememory 100 and is readable by the controller 42. Further functioning ofthe controller 42 in combination with the terminal 76 and the switches44A, B, and C should be evident from the foregoing description.

[0102]FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration for another embodiment of acartridge having penetrating members. The cartridge 112 has a corrugatedconfiguration and a plurality of penetrating members 118 in grooves 124formed in opposing sides of the cartridge 112. Sterilization barriers126 and 128 are attached over the penetrating members 118 at the top andthe penetrating members 118 at the bottom, respectively. Such anarrangement provides large surfaces for attachment of the sterilizationbarriers 126 and 128. All the penetrating members 118 on the one sideare used first, whereafter the cartridge 112 is turned over and thepenetrating members 11 8 on the other side are used. Additional aspectsof such a cartridge are also discussed in FIGS. 42-44.

[0103] Referring now to FIGS. 12-13, a friction based method of couplingwith and driving bare lancets or bare penetrating members will bedescribed in further detail. Any embodiment of the present inventiondisclosed herein may be adapted to use these methods. As seen in FIG.12, surface 201 is physically in contact with penetrating member 202.Surface 203 is also physically in contact with penetrating member 202.In the present embodiment of the invention, surface 201 is stainlesssteel, penetrating member 202 is stainless steel, and surface 203 ispolytetrafluoroethylene-coated stainless steel.

[0104]FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of the friction based couplingin use. Normal force 206 may be applied vertically to surface 201,pressing it against penetrating member 202. Penetrating member 202 isthereby pressed against surface 203. Normal force 206 is transmittedthrough surface 201 and penetrating member 202 to also act betweenpenetrating member 202 and surface 203. Surface 203 is held rigid orstationary with respect to a target of the lancet. Using the classicalstatic friction model, the maximum frictional force between surface 201and penetrating member 202 is equal to the friction coefficient betweensurface 201 and penetrating member 202 multiplied by the normal forcebetween surface 201 and penetrating member 202. In this embodiment, themaximum frictional force between surface 203 and penetrating member 202is equal to the coefficient of friction between the surface 203 and thepenetrating member 202 multiplied by the normal force between thesurface 203 and the penetrating member 202. Because friction coefficientbetween surface 203 and penetrating member 202 is less than frictioncoefficient between surface 201 and penetrating member 202, theinterface between surface 201 and penetrating member 202 can develop ahigher maximum static friction force than can the interface betweensurface 203 and penetrating member 202.

[0105] Driving force as indicated by arrow 207 is applied to surface 201perpendicular to normal force 206. The sum of the forces actinghorizontally on surface 201 is the sum of driving force 207 and thefriction force developed at the interface of surface 201 and penetratingmember 202, which acts in opposition to driving force 207. Since thecoefficient of friction between surface 203 and penetrating member 202is less than the coefficient of friction between surface 201 andpenetrating member 202, penetrating member 202 and surface 201 willremain stationary with respect to each other and can be considered tobehave as one piece when driving force 207 just exceeds the maximumfrictional force that can be supported by the interface between surface203 and penetrating member 202. Surface 201 and penetrating member 202can be considered one piece because the coefficient of friction betweensurface 201 and penetrating member 202 is high enough to preventrelative motion between the two.

[0106] In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between surface201 and penetrating member 202 is approximately 0.8 corresponding to thecoefficient of friction between two surfaces of stainless steel, whilethe coefficient of friction between surface 203 and penetrating member202 is approximately 0.04, corresponding to the coefficient of frictionbetween a surface of stainless steel and one of polytetrafluoroethylene.Normal force 206 has a value of 202 Newtons. Using these values, themaximum frictional force that the interface between surface 201 andpenetrating member 202 can support is 1.6 Newtons, while the maximumfrictional force that the interface between surface 203 and penetratingmember 202 can support is 0.08 Newtons. If driving force 207 exceeds0.08 Newtons, surface 201 and penetrating member 202 will begin toaccelerate together with respect to surface 203. Likewise, if drivingforce 207 exceeds 1.6 Newtons and penetrating member 202 encounters arigid barrier, surface 201 would move relative to penetrating member202.

[0107] Another condition, for example, for surface 201 to move relativeto penetrating member 202 would be in the case of extreme acceleration.In an embodiment, penetrating member 202 has a mass of 8.24×10−6 kg. Anacceleration of 194,174 m/s2 of penetrating member 202 would thereforebe required to exceed the frictional force between penetrating member202 and surface 201, corresponding to approximately 19,800 g's. Withoutbeing bound to any particular embodiment or theory of operation, othermethods of applying friction base coupling may also be used. Forexample, the penetrating member 202 may be engaged by a coupler using ainterference fit to create the frictional engagement with the member.

[0108]FIG. 14 illustrates a polytetrafluoroethylene coating on stainlesssteel surface 203 in detail. It should be understood that the surface203 may be coated with other materials such as but not limited toTelfon®, silicon, polymer or glass. The coating may cover all of thepenetrating member, only the proximal portions, only the distalportions, only the tip, only some other portion, or some combination ofsome or all of the above. FIG. 15 illustrates a doping of lead appliedto surface 201, which conforms to penetrating member 202 microscopicallywhen pressed against it. Both of these embodiments and other coatedembodiments of a penetrating member may be used with the actuationmethods described herein.

[0109] The shapes and configurations of surface 201 and surface 102could be some form other than shown in FIGS. 12-15. For-example, surface201 could be the surface of a wheel, which when rotated causespenetrating member 202 to advance or retract relative to surface 203.Surface 201 could be coated with another conformable material besideslead, such as a plastic. It could also be coated with particles, such asdiamond dust, or given a surface texture to enhance the frictioncoefficient of surface 201 with penetrating member 202. Surface 202could be made of or coated with diamond, fluorinated ethylene propylene,perfluoroalkoxy, a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, acopolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene, or any other materialwith a coefficient of friction with penetrating member 202 lower thanthat of the material used for surface 201.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 16, a portion of a base plate 210 of anembodiment of a penetrating member cartridge is shown with a pluralityof penetrating member slots 212 disposed in a radial direction cut intoa top surface 214 of the base plate. A drive member 216 is shown with adistal edge 218 disposed within one of the penetrating member slots 212of the base plate 210. The distal edge 218 of the drive member 216 isconfigured to slide within the penetrating member slots 212 with aminimum of friction but with a close fit to minimize lateral movementduring a lancing cycle.

[0111]FIG. 17 shows a distal portion 220 of a coated penetrating member222 in partial longitudinal section. The coated penetrating member 222has a core portion 224, a coating 226 and a tapered distal end portion228. A portion of a coated drive member 230 is shown having a coating234 with penetrating member contact surface 236. The penetrating membercontact surface 236 forms an interface 238 with an outer surface 240 ofthe coated penetrating member 222. The interface 238 has acharacteristic friction coefficient that will depend in part on thechoice of materials for the penetrating member coating 226 and the drivemember coating 234. If silver is used as the penetrating member anddrive member coating 226 and 236, this yields a friction coefficient ofabout 1.3 to about 1.5. Other materials can be used for coatings 226 and236 to achieve the desired friction coefficient. For example, gold,platinum, stainless steel and other materials may be used for coatings226 and 236. It may be desirable to use combinations of differentmaterials for coatings 226 and 236. For example, an embodiment mayinclude silver for a penetrating member coating 226 and gold for a drivemember coating. Some embodiments of the interface 238 can have frictioncoefficients of about 1.15 to about 5.0, specifically, about 1.3 toabout 2.0.

[0112] Embodiments of the penetrating member 222 can have an outertransverse dimension or diameter of about 200 to about 400 microns,specifically, about 275 to about 325 microns. Embodiments of penetratingmember 222 can have a length of about 10 to about 30 millimeters,specifically, about 15 to about 25 millimeters. Penetrating member 222can be made from any suitable high strength alloy such as stainlesssteel or the like.

[0113]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a lancing device 242 havingfeatures of the invention. A penetrating member cartridge 244 isdisposed about a driver 246 that is coupled to a drive member 248 by acoupler rod 250. The penetrating member cartridge 244 has a plurality ofpenetrating member slots 252 disposed in a radial configuration in a topsurface 254 a base plate 256 of the penetrating member cartridge 244.The distal ends 253 of the penetrating member slots 252 are disposed atan outer surface 260 of the base plate 256. A fracturable sterilitybarrier 258, shown partially cut away, is disposed on the top surface254 of base plate 256 over the plurality of penetrating member slots252. The sterility barrier 258 is also disposed over the outer surface260 of the base plate 256 in order to seal the penetrating member slotsfrom contamination prior to a lancing cycle. A distal portion of apenetrating member 262 is shown extending radially from the penetratingmember cartridge 244 in the direction of a patient's finger 264.

[0114]FIG. 19 illustrates a portion of the base plate 256 used with thelancing device 242 in more detail and without sterility barrier 258 inplace (for ease of illustration). The base plate 256 includes aplurality of penetrating member slots 252 which are in radial alignmentwith corresponding drive member slots 266. The drive member slots 266have an optional tapered input configuration that may facilitatealignment of the drive member 248 during downward movement into thedrive member slot 266 and penetrating member slot 252. Penetratingmember slots 252 are sized and configured to accept a penetrating member262 disposed therein and allow axial movement of the penetrating member262 within the penetrating member slots 252 without substantial lateralmovement.

[0115] Referring again to FIG. 18, in use, the present embodiment ofpenetrating member cartridge 242 is placed in an operationalconfiguration with the driver 246. A lancing cycle is initiated and thedrive member 248 is brought down through the sterility barrier 258 andinto a penetrating member slot 252. A penetrating member contact surfaceof the drive member then makes contact with an outside surface of thepenetrating member 262 and is driven distally toward the patient'sfinger 264 as described above with regard to the embodiment discussed inFIG. 20. The friction coefficient between the penetrating member contactsurface of the drive member 248 and the penetrating member 262 isgreater than the friction coefficient between the penetrating member 262and an interior surface of the penetrating member slots 252. As such,the drive member 248 is able to drive the penetrating member 262distally through the sterility barrier 258 and into the patient's finger264 without any relative movement or substantial relative movementbetween the drive member 248 and the penetrating member 262.

[0116] Referring to FIGS. 20-22, a lancing cycle sequence is shown for alancing device 242 with another embodiment of a penetrating membercartridge 244 as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. The base plate 256 of thepenetrating member cartridge 242 shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 has aplurality of penetrating member slots 252 with top openings 268 that donot extend radially to the outer surface 260 of the base plate 256. Inthis way, the penetrating member slots 252 can be sealed with a firststerility barrier 270 disposed on the top surface 254 of the base plate256 and a second sterility barrier 272 disposed on the outer surface 260of the base plate 256. Penetrating member outlet ports 274 are disposedat the distal ends of the penetrating member slots 252.

[0117] Referring again to FIG. 20, the penetrating member 262 is shownin the proximally retracted starting position within the penetratingmember slot 252. The outer surface of the penetrating member 276 is incontact with the penetrating member contact surface 278 of the drivemember 248. The friction coefficient between the penetrating membercontact surface 278 of the drive member 248 and the outer surface 276 ofthe penetrating member 262 is greater than the friction coefficientbetween the penetrating member 262 and an interior surface 280 of thepenetrating member slots 252. A distal drive force as indicated by arrow282 in FIG. 10 is then applied via the drive coupler 250 to the drivemember 248 and the penetrating member is driven out of the penetratingmember outlet port 274 and into the patient's finger 264. A proximalretraction force, as indicated by arrow 284 in FIG. 22, is then appliedto the drive member 248 and the penetrating member 262 is withdrawn fromthe patient's finger 264 and back into the penetrating member slot 252.

[0118]FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate an embodiment of a multiple layersterility barrier 258 in the process of being penetrated by apenetrating member 62. It should be understood that this barrier 258 maybe adapted for use with any embodiment of the present invention. Thesterility barrier 258 shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 is a two layer sterilitybarrier 258 that facilitates maintaining sterility of the penetratingmember 262 as it passes through and exits the sterility barrier 258. InFIG. 25, the distal end 286 of the penetrating member 262 is applying anaxial force in a distal direction against an inside surface 288 of afirst layer 290 of the sterility barrier 258, so as to deform the firstlayer 290 of the sterility barrier 258. The deformation 291 of the firstlayer 290 in turn applies a distorting force to the second layer 292 ofthe sterility barrier 258. The second layer of the sterility barrier isconfigured to have a lower tensile strength that the first layer 290. Assuch, the second layer 292 fails prior to the first layer 290 due to thestrain imposed on the first layer 290 by the distal end 286 of thepenetrating member 262, as shown in FIG. 26. After the second layer 292fails, it then retracts from the deformed portion 291 of the first layer290 as shown by arrows 294 in FIG. 26. As long as the inside surface 288and outside surface 296 of the first layer 290 are sterile prior tofailure of the second layer 292, the penetrating member 262 will remainsterile as it passes through the first layer 290 once the first layereventually fails. Such a multiple layer sterility barrier 258 can beused for any of the embodiments discussed herein. The multiple layersterility barrier 258 can also include three or more layers.

[0119] Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, an embodiment of a drive member 300coupled to a driver 302 wherein the drive member 300 includes a cuttingmember 304 having a sharpened edge 306 which is configured to cutthrough a sterility barrier 258 of a penetrating member slot 252 duringa lancing cycle in order for the drive member 300 to make contact with apenetrating member. An optional lock pin 308 on the cutting member 304can be configured to engage the top surface 310 of the base plate inorder to prevent distal movement of the cutting member 304 with thedrive member 300 during a lancing cycle.

[0120]FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate an embodiment of a penetrating memberslot 316 in longitudinal section having a ramped portion 318 disposed ata distal end 320 of the penetrating member slot. A drive member 322 isshown partially disposed within the penetrating member slot 316. Thedrive member 322 has a cutting edge 324 at a distal end 326 thereof forcutting through a sterility barrier 328 during a lancing cycle. FIG. 30illustrates the cutting edge 324 cutting through the sterility barrier328 during a lancing cycle with the cut sterility barrier 328 peelingaway from the cutting edge 324.

[0121] FIGS. 31-34 illustrate drive member slots in a base plate 330 ofa penetrating member cartridge wherein at least a portion of the drivemember slots have a tapered opening which is larger in transversedimension at a top surface of the base plate than at the bottom of thedrive member slot. FIG. 31 illustrates a base plate 330 with apenetrating member slot 332 that is tapered at the input 334 at the topsurface 336 of the base plate 330 along the entire length of thepenetrating member slot 332. In such a configuration, the penetratingmember slot and drive member slot (not shown) would be in communicationand continuous along the entire length of the slot 332. As an optionalalternative, a base plate 338 as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33 can have adrive member slot 340 that is axially separated from the correspondingpenetrating member slot 342. With this configuration, the drive memberslot 340 can have a tapered configuration and the penetrating memberslot 342 can have a straight walled configuration. In addition, thisconfiguration can be used for corrugated embodiments of base plates 346as shown in FIG. 34. In FIG. 34, a drive member 348 is disposed within adrive member slot 350. A penetrating member contact surface 352 isdisposed on the drive member 348. The contact surface 352 has a taperedconfiguration that will facilitate lateral alignment of the drive member348 with the drive member slot 350.

[0122] FIGS. 35-37 illustrate an embodiment of a penetrating membercartridge 360 and drive member 362 wherein the drive member 362 hascontoured jaws 364 configured to grip a penetrating member shaft 366. InFIG. 35, the drive member 362 and penetrating member shaft 366 are shownin transverse cross section with the contoured jaws 364 disposed aboutthe penetrating member shaft 366. A pivot point 368 is disposed betweenthe contoured jaws 364 and a tapered compression slot 370 in the drivemember 362. A compression wedge 372 is shown disposed within the taperedcompression slot 370. Insertion of the compression wedge 372 into thecompression slot 370 as indicated by arrow 374, forces the contouredjaws 364 to close about and grip the penetrating member shaft 366 asindicated by arrows 376.

[0123]FIG. 36 shows the drive member 362 in position about a penetratingmember shaft 366 in a penetrating member slot 378 in the penetratingmember cartridge 360. The drive member can be actuated by the methodsdiscussed above with regard to other drive member and driverembodiments. FIG. 37 is an elevational view in longitudinal section ofthe penetrating member shaft 166 disposed within the penetrating memberslot 378. The arrows 380 and 382 indicate in a general way, the pathfollowed by the drive member 362 during a lancing cycle. During alancing cycle, the drive member comes down into the penetrating memberslot 378 as indicated by arrow 380 through an optional sterility barrier(not shown). The contoured jaws of the drive member then clamp about thepenetrating member shaft 366 and move forward in a distal direction soas to drive the penetrating member into the skin of a patient asindicated by arrow 382.

[0124]FIGS. 38 and 39 show a portion of a lancing device 390 having alid 392 that can be opened to expose a penetrating member cartridgecavity 394 for removal of a used penetrating member cartridge 396 andinsertion of a new penetrating member cartridge 398. Depression ofbutton 400 in the direction indicated by arrow 402 raises the drivemember 404 from the surface of the penetrating member cartridge 396 byvirtue of lever action about pivot point 406. Raising the lid 392actuates the lever arm 408 in the direction indicated by arrow 410 whichin turn applies a tensile force to cable 412 in the direction indicatedby arrow 414. This action pulls the drive member back away from thepenetrating member cartridge 396 so that the penetrating membercartridge 396 can be removed from the lancing device 390. A newpenetrating member cartridge 398 can then be inserted into the lancingdevice 390 and the steps above reversed in order to position the drivemember 404 above the penetrating member cartridge 398 in an operationalposition.

[0125]FIGS. 40 and 41 illustrate a penetrating member cartridge 420 thathas penetrating member slots 422 on a top side 424 and a bottom side 426of the penetrating member cartridge 420. This allows for a penetratingmember cartridge 420 of a diameter D to store for use twice the numberof penetrating members as a one sided penetrating member cartridge ofthe same diameter D.

[0126] FIGS. 42-44 illustrate end and perspective views of a penetratingmember cartridge 430 having a plurality of penetrating member slots 432formed from a corrugated surface 434 of the penetrating member cartridge430. Penetrating members 436 are disposed on both sides of thepenetrating member cartridge 430. A sterility barrier 438 is showndisposed over the penetrating member slots 432 in FIG. 44.

[0127] FIGS. 45-48 illustrate embodiments of a penetrating member 440and drive member 442 wherein the penetrating member 440 has a transverseslot 444 in the penetrating member shaft 446 and the drive member 442has a protuberance 448 configured to mate with the transverse slot 444in the penetrating member shaft 446. FIG. 45 shows a protuberance 448having a tapered configuration that matches a tapered configuration ofthe transverse slot 444 in the penetrating member shaft 446. FIG. 46illustrates an optional alternative embodiment wherein the protuberance448 has straight walled sides that are configured to match the straightwalled sides of the transverse slot 444 shown in FIG. 46. FIG. 47 showsa tapered protuberance 448 that is configured to leave an end gap 450between an end of the protuberance 448 and a bottom of the transverseslot in the penetrating member shaft 446.

[0128]FIG. 48 illustrates a mechanism 452 to lock the drive member 442to the penetrating member shaft 446 that has a lever arm 454 with anoptional bearing 456 on the first end 458 thereof disposed within aguide slot 459 of the drive member 442. The lever arm 454 has a pivotpoint 460 disposed between the first end 458 of the lever arm 454 andthe second end 462 of the lever arm 454. A biasing force is disposed onthe second end 462 of the lever arm 454 by a spring member 464 that isdisposed between the second end 462 of the lever arm 454 and a baseplate 466. The biasing force in the direction indicated by arrow 468forces the penetrating member contact surface 470 of the drive member442 against the outside surface of the penetrating member 446 and, inaddition, forces the protuberance 448 of the drive member 442 into thetransverse slot 444 of the penetrating member shaft 446.

[0129] Referring now to FIG. 49, another-embodiment of a replaceablecartridge 500 suitable for housing a plurality of individually moveablepenetrating members (not shown) will be described in further detail.Although cartridge 500 is shown with a chamfered outer periphery, itshould also be understood that less chamfered and unchamferedembodiments of the cartridge 500 may also be adapted for use with anyembodiment of the present invention disclosed herein. The penetratingmembers slidably coupled to the cartridge may be a bare lancet or bareelongate member without outer molded part or body pieces as seen inconventional lancet. The bare design reduces cost and simplifiesmanufacturing of penetrating members for use with the present invention.The penetrating members may be retractable and held within the cartridgeso that they are not able to be used again. The cartridge is replaceablewith a new cartridge once all the piercing members have been used. Thelancets or penetrating members may be fully contained in the usedcartridge so at to minimize the chance of patient contact with suchwaste.

[0130] As can be seen in FIG. 49, the cartridge 500 may include aplurality of cavities 501 for housing a penetrating member. In thisembodiment, the cavity 501 may have a longitudinal opening 502associated with the cavity. The cavity 501 may also have a lateralopening 503 allowing the penetrating member to exit radially outwardfrom the cartridge. As seen in FIG. 49, the outer radial portion of thecavity may be narrowed. The upper portion of this narrowed area may alsobe sealed or swaged to close the top portion 505 and define an enclosedopening 506 as shown in FIG. 50. Optionally, the narrowed area 504 mayretain an open top configuration, though in some embodiments, the foilover the gap is unbroken, preventing the penetrating member from liftingup or extending upward out of the cartridge. The narrowed portion 504may act as a bearing and/or guide for the penetrating member. FIG. 51shows that the opening 506 may have a variety of shapes such as but notlimited to, circular, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, square, orcombinations of any or all of the previous shapes. Openings 507 (shownin phantom) for other microfluidics, capillary tubes, or the like mayalso be incorporated in the immediate vicinity of the opening 506. Insome optional embodiments, such openings 507 may be configured tosurround the opening 506 in a concentric or other manner.

[0131] Referring now to FIG. 52, the underside of a cartridge 500 willbe described in further detail. This figures shows many features on onecartridge 500. It should be understood that a cartridge may includesome, none, or all of these features, but they are shown in FIG. 52 forease of illustration. The underside may include indentations or holes510 close to the inner periphery for purpose of properly positioning thecartridge to engage a penetrating member gripper and/or to allow anadvancing device (shown in FIG. 56B and 56C) to rotate the cartridge500. Indentations or holes 511 may be formed along various locations onthe underside of cartridge 500 and may assume various shapes such as butnot limited to, circular, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, square, orcombinations of any or all of the previous shapes. Notches 512 may alsobe formed along the inner surface of the cartridge 500 to assist inalignment and/or rotation of the cartridge. It should be understood ofcourse that some of these features may also be placed on the topside ofthe cartridge in areas not occupied by cavities 501 that house thepenetrating members. Notches 513 may also be incorporated along theouter periphery of the cartridge. These notches 513 may be used togather excess material from the sterility barrier 28 (not shown) thatmay be used to cover the angled portion 514 of the cartridge. In thepresent embodiment, the cartridge has a flat top surface and an angledsurface around the outside. Welding a foil type sterility barrier overthat angled surface, the foil folds because of the change in thesurfaces which is now at 45 degrees. This creates excess material. Thegrooves or notches 513 are there as a location for that excess material.Placing the foil down into those grooves 513 which may tightly stretchthe material across the 45 degree angled surface. Although in thisembodiment the surface is shown to be at 45 degrees, it should beunderstood that other angles may also be used. For example, the surfacemay be at any angle between about 3 degrees to 90 degrees, relative tohorizontal. The surface may be squared off. The surface may beunchamfered. The surface may also be a curved surface or it may becombinations of a variety of angled surfaces, curved and straightssurfaces, or any combination of some or all of the above.

[0132] Referring now to FIGS. 53-54, the sequence in which the cartridge500 is indexed and penetrating members are actuated will now bedescribed. It should be understood that some steps described herein maybe combined or taken out of order without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. These sequence of steps provides vertical and horizontalmovement used with the present embodiment to load a penetrating memberonto the driver.

[0133] As previously discussed, each cavity on the cartridge may beindividually sealed with a foil cover or other sterile enclosurematerial to maintain sterility until or just before the time of use. Inthe present embodiment, penetrating members are released from theirsterile environments just prior to actuation and are loaded onto alauncher mechanism for use. Releasing the penetrating member from thesterile environment prior to launch allows the penetrating member in thepresent embodiment to be actuated without having to pierce any sterileenclosure material which may dull the tip of the penetrating member orplace contaminants on the member as it travels towards a target tissue.A variety of methods may be used accomplish this goal.

[0134]FIG. 53A shows one embodiment of penetrating member releasedevice, which in this embodiment is a punch plate 520 that is shown in asee-through depiction for ease of illustration. The punch plate 520 mayinclude a first portion 521 for piercing sterile material covering thelongitudinal opening 502 and a second portion 522 for piercing materialcovering the lateral opening 503. A slot 523 allows the penetratingmember gripper to pass through the punch plate 520 and engage apenetrating member housed in the cartridge 500. The second portion 522of the punch plate down to engage sterility barrier angled at about a 45degree slope. Of course, the slope of the barrier may be varied. Thepunch portion 522 first contacts the rear of the front pocket sterilitybarrier and as it goes down, the cracks runs down each side and thebarrier is pressed down to the bottom of the front cavity. The rear edgeof the barrier first contacted by the punch portion 522 is broken offand the barrier is pressed down, substantially cleared out of the way.These features may be more clearly seen in FIG. 53B. The punch portion521 may include a blade portion down the centerline. As the punch comesdown, that blade may be aligned with the center of the cavity, cuttingthe sterility barrier into two pieces. The wider part of the punch 521then pushes down on the barrier so the they align parallel to the sidesof the cavity. This creates a complete and clear path for the gripperthroughout the longitudinal opening of the cavity. Additionally, as seenin FIGS. 53B and 54A, a plurality of protrusion 524 are positioned toengage a cam (FIG. 55A) which sequences the punching and other verticalmovement of punch plate 520 and cartridge pusher 525. The drive shaft526 from a force generator (not shown) which is used to actuate thepenetrating member 527.

[0135] Referring now to FIGS. 54A-F, the release and loading of thepenetrating members are achieved in the following sequence. FIG. 54Ashows the release and loading mechanism in rest state with a dirty barepenetrating member 527 held in a penetrating member gripper 530. This isthe condition of the device between lancing events. When the time comesfor the patient to initiate another lancing event, the used penetratingmember is cleared and a new penetrating member is loaded, just prior tothe actual lancing event. The patient begins the loading of a newpenetrating member by operating a setting lever to initiate the process.The setting lever may operate mechanically to rotate a cain (see FIG.55A) that moves the punch plate 520 and cartridge pusher 525. In otherembodiments, a stepper motor or other mover such as but not limited to,a pneumatic actuator, hydraulic actuator, or the like are used to drivethe loading sequence.

[0136]FIG. 54B shows one embodiment of penetrating member gripper 530 inmore detail. The penetrating member gripper 530 may be in the form of atuning fork with sharp edges along the inside of the legs contacting thepenetrating member. In some embodiments, the penetrating member may benotched, recessed, or otherwise shaped to receive the penetrating membergripper. As the gripper 530 is pushed down on the penetrating member,the legs are spread open elastically to create a frictional grip withthe penetrating member such as but not limited to bare elongate wireswithout attachments molded or otherwise attached thereon. In someembodiments, the penetrating member is made of a homogenous materialwithout any additional attachments that are molded, adhered, glued orotherwise added onto the penetrating member.

[0137] In some embodiments, the gripper 530 may cut into the sides ofthe penetrating member. The penetrating member in one embodiment may beabout 300 microns wide. The grooves that form in the side of thepenetrating member by the knife edges are on the order of about 5-10microns deep and are quite small. In this particular embodiment, theknife edges allow the apparatus to use a small insertion force to getthe gripper onto the penetrating member, compared to the force to removethe penetrating member from the gripper the longitudinal axis of anelongate penetrating member. Thus, the risk of a penetrating memberbeing detached during actuation are reduced. The gripper 530 may be madeof a variety of materials such as, but not limited to high strengthcarbon steel that is heat treated to increased hardness, ceramic,substrates with diamond coating, composite reinforced plastic,elastomer, polymer, and sintered metals. Additionally, the steel may besurface treated. The gripper 130 may have high gripping force with lowfriction drag on solenoid or other driver.

[0138] As seen in FIG. 54C, the sequence begins with punch plate 520being pushed down. This results in the opening of the next sterilecavity 532. In some embodiment, this movement of punch plate 520 mayalso result in the crimping of the dirty penetrating member to preventit from being used again. This crimping may result from a protrusion onthe punch plate bending the penetrating member or pushing thepenetrating member into a groove in the cartridge that hold thepenetrating member in place through an interference fit. As seen inFIGS. 53B and 54C, the punch plate 520 has a protrusion or punch shapedto penetrate a longitudinal opening 502 and a lateral opening 503 on thecartridge. The first portion 521 of the punch that opens cavity 532 isshaped to first pierce the sterility barrier and then push, compresses,or otherwise moves sterile enclosure material towards the sides of thelongitudinal opening 502. The second portion 522 of the punch pushesdown the sterility barrier at lateral opening or penetrating member exit503 such that the penetrating member does not pierce any materials whenit is actuated toward a tissue site.

[0139] Referring now to FIG. 54D, the cartridge pusher 525 is engaged bythe cam 550 (not shown) and begins to push down on the cartridge 500.The punch plate 520 may also travel downward with the cartridge 500until it is pushed down to it maximum downward position, while thepenetrating member gripper 530 remains vertically stationary. This jointdownward motion away from the penetrating member gripper 530 will removethe penetrating member from the gripper. The punch plate 520 essentiallypushes against the penetrating member with protrusion 534 (FIG. 55A),holding the penetrating member with the cartridge, while the cartridge500 and the punch plate 520 is lowered away from the penetrating membergripper 530 which in this embodiment remains vertically stationary. Thiscauses the stripping of the used penetrating member from the gripper 530(FIG. 45D) as the cartridge moves relative to the gripper.

[0140] At this point as seen in FIG. 54E, the punch plate 520 retractsupward and the cartridge 500 is pushed fully down, clear of the gripper530. Now cleared of obstructions and in a rotatable position, thecartridge 500 increments one pocket or cavity in the direction thatbrings the newly released, sterile penetrating member in cavity 532 intoalignment with the penetrating member gripper 530, as see in FIG. 54F.The rotation of the cartridge occurs due to fingers engaging the holesor indentations 533 on the cartridge, as seen in FIG. 54A. In someembodiments, these indentations 533 do not pass completely throughcartridge 500. In other embodiments, these indentations are holespassing completely through. The cartridge has a plurality of littleindentations 533 on the top surface near the center of the cartridge,along the inside diameter. In the one embodiment, the sterility barrieris cut short so as not to cover these plurality of indentations 533. Itshould be understood of course that these holes may be located onbottom, side or other accessible surface. These indentations 533 havetwo purposes. The apparatus may have one or a plurality of locator pins,static pins, or other keying feature that dos not move. In thisembodiment, the cartridge will only set down into positions where thegripper 530 is gripping the penetrating member. To index the cassette,the cartridge is lifted off those pins or other keyed feature, rotatedaround, and dropped onto those pins for the next position. The rotatingdevice is through the use of two fingers: one is a static pawl and theother one is a sliding finger. They engage with the holes 533. Thefingers are driven by a slider that may be automatically actuated oractuated by the user. This maybe occur mechanically or through electricor other powered devices. Halfway through the stroke, a finger mayengage and rotate around the cartridge. A more complete description canbe found with text associated with FIGS. 56B-56C.

[0141] Referring now to FIG. 54G, with the sterile penetrating member inalignment, the cartridge 500 is released as indicated by arrows 540 andbrought back into contact with the penetrating member gripper 530. Thenew penetrating member 541 is inserted into the gripper 530, and theapparatus is ready to fire once again. After launch and in betweenlancing events for the present embodiment, the bare lancet orpenetrating member 541 is held in place by gripper 530, preventing thepenetrating member from accidentally protruding or sliding out of thecartridge 500.

[0142] It should be understood of course, that variations can be addedto the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, the penetrating member 541 may be placed in aparked position in the cartridge 500 prior to launch. As seen in FIG.55A, the penetrating member is held by a narrowed portion 542 of thecartridge, creating an interference fit which pinches the proximal endof the penetrating member. Friction from the molding or cartridge holdsthe penetrating member during rest, preventing the penetrating memberfrom sliding back and forth. Of course, other methods of holding thepenetrating member may also be used. As seen in FIG. 55B prior tolaunch, the penetrating member gripper 530 may pull the penetratingmember 541 out of the portion 542. The penetrating member 541 may remainin this portion until actuated by the solenoid or other force generatorcoupled to the penetrating member gripper. A cam surface 544 may be usedto pull the penetrating member out of the portion 542. This mechanicalcam surface may be coupled to the mechanical slider driven by thepatient, which may be considered a separate force generator. Thus,energy from the patient extracts the penetrating member and this reducesthe drain on the device's battery if the solenoid or electric driverwere to pull out the penetrating member. The penetrating member may bemoved forward a small distance (on the order of about 1 mm or less) fromits parked position to pull the penetrating member from the restposition gripper. After penetrating tissue, the penetrating member maybe returned to the cartridge and eventually placed into the parkedposition. This may also occur, though not necessarily, through forceprovided by the patient. In one embodiment, the placing of the lancetinto the parked position does not occur until the process for loading anew penetrating member is initiated by the patient. In otherembodiments, the pulling out of the parked position occurs in the samemotion as the penetrating member actuation. The return into the parkedposition may also be considered a continuous motion.

[0143]FIG. 55A also shows one embodiment of the cam and other surfacesused to coordinate the motion of the punch plate 520. For example, cam550 in this embodiment is circular and engages the protrusions 524 onthe punch plate 520 and the cartridge pusher 525. FIG. 55A also moreclearly shows protrusion 534 which helps to hold the penetrating memberin the cartridge 500 while the penetrating member gripper 530 pulls awayfrom the member, relatively speaking. A ratchet surface 552 that rotateswith the cam 550 may be used to prevent the cam from rotating backwards.The raising and lower of cartridge 500 and punch plate 50 used toload/unload penetrating members may be mechanically actuated by avariety of cam surfaces, springs, or the like as may be determined byone skilled in the art. Some embodiments may also use electrical ormagnetic device to perform the loading, unloading, and release of barepenetrating members. Although the punch plate 520 is shown to bepunching downward to displace, remove, or move the foil or other sterileenvironment enclosure, it should be understood that other methods suchas stripping, pulling, tearing, or some combination of one or more ofthese methods may be used to remove the foil or sterile enclosure. Forexample, in other embodiments, the punch plate 520 may be located on anunderside of the cartridge and punch upward. In other embodiments, thecartridge may remain vertically stationary while other parts such as thepenetrating member gripper and punch plate move to load a sterilepenetrating member on to the penetrating member gripper.

[0144]FIG. 55B also shows other features that may be included in thepresent apparatus. A fire button 560 may be included for the user toactuate the penetrating member. A front end interface 561 may beincluded to allow a patient to seat their finger or other target tissuefor lancing. The interface 561 may be removable to be cleaned orreplaced. A visual display 562 may be included to show device status,lancing performance, error reports, or the like to the patient.

[0145] Referring now to FIG. 56A, a mechanical slider 564 used by thepatient to load new penetrating member may also be incorporated on thehousing. The slider 564 may also be coupled to activate an LCD or visualdisplay on the lancing apparatus. In addition to providing a source ofenergy to index the cartridge, the slider 564 may also switch theelectronics to start the display. The user may use the display to selectthe depth of lancing or other feature. The display may go back to sleepagain until it is activated again by motion of the slider 564. Theunderside the housing 566 may also be hinged or otherwise removable toallow the insertion of cartridge 500 into the device. The cartridge 500may be inserted using technology current used for insertion of a compactdisc or other disc into a compact disc player. In one embodiment, theremay be a tray which is deployed outward to receive or to remove acartridge. The tray may be withdrawn into the apparatus where it may beelevated, lowered, or otherwise transported into position for use withthe penetrating member driver. In other embodiments, the apparatus mayhave a slot into which the cartridge is partially inserted at whichpoint a mechanical apparatus will assist in completing insertion of thecartridge and load the cartridge into proper position inside theapparatus. Such device is akin to the type of compact disc player foundon automobiles. The insertions/ejection and loading apparatus of thesecompact disc players uses gears, pulleys, cables, trays, and/or otherparts that may be adapted for use with the present invention.

[0146] Referring now to FIG. 56B, a more detailed view of one embodimentof the slider 564 is provided. In this embodiment, the slider 564 willmove initially as indicated by arrow 567. To complete the cycle, thepatient will return the slider to its home position or original startingposition as indicated by arrow 568. The slider 564 has an arm 569 whichmoves with the slider to rotate the cam 550 and engage portions 522. Themotion of the slider 564 is also mechanically coupled to a finger 570which engage the indentations 571 on cartridge 500. The finger 570 issynchronized to rotate the cartridge 500 by pulling as indicated byarrow 572 in the same plane as the cartridge. It should be understoodthat in some embodiments, the finger 570 pushes instead of pulls torotate the cartridge in the correct direction. The finger 570 may alsobe adapted to engage ratchet surfaces 706 as seen in FIG. 66 to rotate acartridge. The finger 570 may also incorporate vertical motion tocoordinate with the rising and lowering of the cartridge 500. The motionof finger 570 may also be powered by electric actuators such as astepper motor or other device useful for achieving motion. FIG. 56B alsoshows a portion of the encoder 573 used in position sensing.

[0147] Referring now to FIG. 56C, a still further view of the slider 564and arm 569 is shown. The arm 569 moves to engage portion 522 asindicated by arrow 575 and this causes the cam 550 to rotate asindicated by arrow 577. In this particular embodiment, the cam 550rotates about ⅛ of an rotation with each pull of the slider 564. Whenthe slider 564 is return to its home or start position, the arm 569rides over the portion 522. The movement of the slider also allows thecam surface 544 to rotate about pivot point 579. A resilient member 580may be coupled to the cam surface 544 to cause it to rotatecounterclockwise when the arm 569 moves in the direction of arrow 567.The pin 580 will remain in contact with the arm 569. As the cam surface544 rotates a first surface 582 will contact the pin 583 on the gripperblock 584 and pull the pin 583 back to park a penetrating member into acoupling or narrowed portion 542 of the cartridge 500 as seen in FIG.55A. As the arm 569 is brought back to the home position, the camsurface 544 rotates back and a second surface 586 that rotates clockwiseand pushes the penetrating member forward to be released from thenarrowed portion 542 resulting in a position as seen in FIG. 55B. Itshould be understood that in some embodiments, the release and/orparking of lancet from portion 542 may be powered by the driver 588without using the mechanical assistance from cam surface 544.

[0148] In another embodiment of the cartridge device, a mechanicalfeature may be included on the cartridge so that there is only one wayto load it into the apparatus. For example, in one embodiment holding 50penetrating members, the cartridge may have 51 pockets or cavities. The51^(st) pocket will go into the firing position when the device isloaded, thus providing a location for the gripper to rest in thecartridge without releasing a penetrating member from a sterileenvironment. The gripper 530 in that zeroth position is inside thepocket or cavity and that is the reason why one of the pockets may beempty. Of course, some embodiments may have the gripper 530 positionedto grip a penetrating member as the cartridge 500 is loaded into thedevice, with the patient lancing themselves soon afterwards so that thepenetrating member is not contaminated due to prolonged exposure outsidethe sterile enclosure. That zeroth position may be the start and finishposition. The cartridge may also be notched to engaged a protrusion onthe apparatus, thus also providing a method for allowing the penetratingmember to loaded or unloaded only in one orientation. Essentially, thecartridge 500 may be keyed or slotted in association with the apparatusso that the cartridge 500 can only be inserted or removed at oneorientation. For example as seen in FIG. 56D, the cartridge 592 may havea keyed slot 593 that matches the outline of a protrusion 594 such thatthe cartridge 592 may only be removed upon alignment of the slot 593 andprotrusion 594 upon at the start or end positions. It should beunderstood that other keyed technology may be used and the slot or keymay be located on an outer periphery or other location on the cartridge592 in manner useful for allowing insertion or removal of the cartridgefrom only one or a select number of orientations.

[0149] Referring now to FIG. 57, a cross-section of another embodimentof a cavity 600 housing a penetrating member is shown. The cavity 600may include a depression 602 for allowing the gripper 530 to penetratesufficiently deeply into the cavity to frictionally engage thepenetrating member 541. The penetrating member may also be housed in agroove 604 that holds the penetrating member in place prior to and afteractuation. The penetrating member 541 is lifted upward to clear thegroove 604 during actuation and exits through opening 506.

[0150] Referring now to FIG. 58, another variation on the systemaccording to the present invention will now be described. FIG. 58 showsa lancing system 610 wherein the penetrating members have theirsharpened tip pointed radially inward. The finger or other tissue of thepatient is inserted through the center hole 611 to be pierced by themember 612. The penetrating member gripper 530 coupled to drive forcegenerator 613 operate in substantially the same manner as described inFIGS. 54A-G. The punch portions 521 and 522 operate in substantially thesame manner to release the penetrating members from the sterileenclosures. The punch portion 522 may be placed on the inner peripheryof the device, where the penetrating member exit is now located, so thatsterile enclosure material is cleared out of the path of the penetratingmember exit.

[0151] Referring now to FIG. 59, a still further variation on thelancing system according to the present invention will now be described.In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 53-54, the penetrating member gripper530 approaches the penetrating member from above and at least a portionof the drive system is located in a different plane from that of thecartridge 500. FIG. 59 shows an embodiment where the penetrating memberdriver 620 is in substantially the same plane as the penetrating member622. The coupler 624 engages a bent or L shaped portion 626 of themember 622. The cartridge 628 can rotate to engage a new penetratingmember with the coupler 624 without having to move the cartridge orcoupler vertically. The next penetrating member rotates into position inthe slot provided by the coupler 624. A narrowed portion of thecartridge acts as a penetrating member guide 630 near the distal end ofthe penetrating member to align the penetrating member as it exits thecartridge.

[0152] The coupler 624 may come in a variety of configurations. Forexample, FIG. 60A shows a coupler 632 which can engage a penetratingmember 633 that does not have a bent or L-shaped portion. A radialcartridge carrying such a penetrating member 633 may rotate to slidepenetrating member into the groove 634 of the coupler 632. FIG. 60B is afront view showing that the coupler 632 may include a tapered portion636 to guide the penetrating member 633 into the slot 634. FIG. 60Cshows an embodiment of the driver 620 using a coupler 637 having a slot638 for receiving a T-shaped penetrating member. The coupler 637 mayfurther include a protrusion 639 that may be guided in an overhead slotto maintain alignment of the drive shaft during actuation.

[0153] Referring now to FIG. 61, a cartridge 640 for use with anin-plane driver 620 is shown. The cartridge 640 includes an empty slot642 that allows the cartridge to be placed in position with the driver620. In this embodiment, the empty slot 642 allows the coupler 644 to bepositioned to engage an unused penetrating member 645 that may berotated into position as shown by arrow 646. As seen in FIG. 61, thecartridge 640 may also be designed so that only the portion of thepenetrating member that needs to remain sterile (i.e. the portions thatmay actually be penetrating into tissue) are enclosed. As seen in FIG.61, a proximal portion 647 of the penetrating member is exposed. Thisexposed proximal portion may be about 70% of the penetrating member. Inother embodiments it may be between about 69% to about 5% of thepenetrating member. The cartridge 640 may further include, but notnecessarily, sealing protrusions 648. These protrusions 648 arereleasably coupled to the cartridge 640 and are removed from thecartridge 640 by remover 649 as the cartridge rotates to placepenetrating member 645 into the position of the active penetratingmember. The sterile environment is broken prior to actuation of themember 645 and the member does not penetrate sterile enclosure materialthat may dull the tip of the penetrating member during actuation. Afracturable seal material 650 may be applied to the member to sealagainst an inner peripheral portion of the cartridge.

[0154] Referring now to FIG. 62, a still further embodiment of acartridge for use with the present invention will be described. Thiscartridge 652 includes a tapered portion 654 for allowing the coupler655 to enter the cavity 656. A narrowed portion 657 guides thepenetrating member 658. The coupler 655 may have, but does notnecessarily have, movable jaws 659 that engage to grip the penetratingmember 658. Allowing the coupler to enter the cavity 656 allows thealignment of the penetrating member to be better maintained duringactuation. This tapered portion 654 may be adapted for use with anyembodiment of the cartridge disclosed herein.

[0155] Referring now to FIG. 63, a linear cartridge 660 for use with thepresent invention will be described. Although the present invention hasbeen shown in use with radial cartridges, the lancing system may beadapted for use with cartridges of other shapes. FIGS. 79-83 show othercartridges of varying shapes adaptable for use with the presentinvention. FIG. 63 illustrates a cartridge 660 with only a portion 662providing sterile protection for the penetrating members. The cartridge660, however, provides a base 664 on which a penetrating member 665 canrest. This provides a level of protection of the penetrating memberduring handling. The base 664 may also be shaped to provide slots 666 inwhich a penetrating member 667 may be held. The slot 666 may also beadapted to have a tapered portion 668. These configurations may beadapted for use with any of the embodiments disclosed herein, such asthe cartridge 652.

[0156] Referring now to FIGS. 64A-64C, a variety of different devicesare shown for releasing the sterility seal covering a lateral opening503 on the cartridge 500. FIG. 64A shows a rotating punch device 670that has protrusions 672 that punch out the sterility barrier creatingopenings 674 from which a penetrating member can exit without touchingthe sterility barrier material. FIG. 64B shows a vertically rotatingdevice 676 with shaped protrusions 678 that punch down the sterilitybarrier 679 as it is rotated to be in the active, firing position. FIG.64C shows a punch 680 which is positioned to punch out barrier 682 whenthe cartridge is lowered onto the punch. The cartridge is rotated andthe punch 680 rotates with the cartridge. After the cartridge is rotatedto the proper position and lifted up, the punch 680 is spring loaded orotherwise configured to return to the position to engage the sterilitybarrier covering the next unused penetrating member.

[0157] Referring now to FIGS. 65A-65B, another type of punch mechanismfor use with a punch plate 520 will now be described. The device shownin FIGS. 53-54 shows a mechanism that first punches and then rotates orindexes the released penetrating member into position. In this presentembodiment, the cartridge is rotated first and then the gripper andpunch may move down simultaneously. FIG. 65A shows a punch 685 having afirst portion 686 and a second portion 687. As seen in cross-sectionalview of FIG. 65B, the penetrating member gripper 690 is located insidethe punch 685. Thus the penetrating of the sterility barrier isintegrated into the step of engaging the penetrating member with thegripper 690. The punch 685 may include a slot 692 allowing a portion 694of the gripper 690 to extend upward. A lateral opening 695 is providedfrom which a penetrating member may exit. In some embodiments, the punchportion 687 is not included with punch 686, instead relying on someother mechanism such as those shown in FIGS. 64A-64C to press down onbarrier material covering a lateral opening 503.

[0158] Referring now to FIGS. 66, a still further embodiment of acartridge according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 66shows a cartridge 700 with a plurality of cavities 702 and individualdeflectable portions or fingers 704. The ends of the protective cavities702 may be divided into individual fingers (such as one for each cavity)on the outer periphery of the disc. Each finger 704 may be individuallysealed with a foil cover (not shown for ease of illustration) tomaintain sterility until the time of use. Along the inner periphery ofthe cartridge 700 are raised step portions 706 to create a ratchet typemechanism. As seen in FIG. 67, a penetrating member 708 may be housed ineach cavity. The penetrating member may rest on a raised portion 710. Anarrowed portion 712 pinches the proximal portions of the penetrationmember 708. Each cavity may include a wall portion 714 into which thepenetrating member 708 may be driven after the penetrating member hasbeen used. FIG. 68 shows the penetrating member gripper 716 lowered toengage a penetrating member 708. For ease of illustration, a sterilitybarrier covering each of the cavities is not shown.

[0159] Referring now to FIGS. 69A-69L, the sequence of steps foractuating a penetrating member in a cartridge 700 will be described. Itshould be understood that in other embodiments, steps may be combined orreduced without departing from the sprit of the present invention. Thelast penetrating member to -be used may be left in a retracted position,captured by a gripper 716. The end of the protective cavity 704 may bedeflected downward by the previous actuation. The user may operate amechanism such as but not limited to a thumbwheel, lever, crank, slider,etc. . . that advances a new penetrating member 720 into launch positionas seen in FIG. 69A. The mechanism lifts a bar that allows theprotective cavity to return to its original position in the plane of thedisc.

[0160] In this embodiment as shown in FIG. 69B, the penetrating memberguide 722 presses through foil in rear of pocket to “home” penetratingmember and control vertical clearance. For ease of illustration,actuation devices for moving the penetrating member guide 722 and othermechanisms are not shown. They may be springs, cams, or other devicesthat can lower and move the components shown in these figures. In someembodiments, the cartridge 700 may be raised or lowered to engage thepenetrating member guide 722 and other devices.

[0161] As seen in FIG. 69C, the plough or sterile enclosure releasedevice 724 is lowered to engage the cartridge 700. In some embodiments,the disc or cartridge 700 may raised part way upward until a plough orplow blade 724 pierces the sterility barrier 726 which may be a foilcovering.

[0162] Referring now to FIG. 69D, the plough 724 clears foil from frontof pocket and leaves it attached to cartridge 700. The plough 724 isdriven radially inward, cutting open the sterility barrier and rollingthe scrap into a coil ahead of the plough. Foil naturally curls over andforms tight coil when plough lead angle is around 55 degs to horizontal.If angle of the plough may be between about 60-40 degs, preferablycloser to 55 degs. In some embodiments, the foil may be removed in sucha manner that the penetrating member does not need to pierce any sterileenclosure materials during launch.

[0163] Referring now to FIG. 69E, the gripper 716 may be lowered toengage the bare penetrating member or piercing member 720. Optionally,the disc or cartridge 8000 may be raised until the penetrating member720 is pressed feirmly into the gripper 716. Although not shown in thepresent figure, the penetrating member driver or actuator of the presentembodiment may remain in the same horizontal plane as the penetratingmember.

[0164] As seen in FIG. 69F, a bar 730 may be pressed downward on theouter end 732 of the protective cavity to deflect it so it is clear ofthe path of the penetrating member. In the present embodiment, the bar730 is shaped to allow the bare penetrating member 720 to pass through.It should be understood that other shapes and orientations of the bar(such as contacting only one side or part of end 732) may be used toengage the end 732.

[0165] Referring now to FIG. 69G, an electrical solenoid or otherelectronic or feedback controllable drive may actuate the gripper 716radially outward, carrying the bare penetrating member 720 with it. Thebare penetrating member projects from the protective case and into theskin of a finger or other tissue site that has been placed over theaperture of the actuator assembly. Suitable penetrating member driversare described in c ommonly assigned, copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/127,395 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2551) filed Apr. 19,2002.

[0166] Referring now to FIG. 69H, the solenoid or other suitablepenetrating member driver retracts the bare penetrating member 720 intoa retracted position where it parks until the beginning of the nextlancing cycle.

[0167] Referring now to FIG. 69I, bar 730 may be released so that theend 150 returns to an in-plane configuration with the cartridge 800.

[0168] As seen in FIG. 69J, the gripper 716 may drive a used barepenetrating member radially outward until the sharpened tip is embeddedinto a plastic wall 714 at or near the outward end 732 of the cavitythus immobilizing the contaminated penetrating member.

[0169] As seen in FIGS. 69K and 69L, the plough 724, the gripper 716,and penetrating member guide 722 may all be disengaged from the barepenetrating member 720. Optionally, it should be understood that theadvance mechanism may lower the cartridge 700 from the gripper 716. Theused penetrating member, restrained by the tip embedded in plastic, andby the cover foil at the opposite end, is stripped from the gripper. Thedisc or cartridge 700 may be rotated until a new, sealed; sterilepenetrating member is in position under the launch mechanism.

[0170] Referring now to FIGS. 70 and 71, one object for some embodimentsof the invention is to include, blood sampling and sensing on thispenetrating member actuation device. In the present embodiment, thedrive mechanism (gripper 738 and solenoid drive coil 739) may be used todrive a penetrating member into the skin and couple this lancing eventto acquire the blood sample as it forms at the surface of the finger. Ina first embodiment shown in FIG. 70, microfluidic module 740 bearing theanalyte detecting member chemistry and detection device 742 (FIG. 71) iscouple on to the shaft of the penetrating member 720. The drive cycledescribed above may also actuate the module 740 so that it rests at thesurface of the finger to acquire blood once the penetrating memberretracts from the wound. The module 740 is allowed to remain on thesurface of the finger or other tissue site until the gripper 738 hasreached the back end 744 of the microfluidics module 740, at which pointthe module is also retracted into the casing. The amount of time themodule 740 remains on the finger, in this embodiment, may be variedbased on the distance the end 744 is located and the amount of time ittakes the gripper to engage it on the withdrawal stroke. The bloodfilled module 740, filled while the module remains on pierced tissuesite, may then undergo analyte detection by means such as optical orelectrochemical sensing.

[0171] The blood may be filled in the lumen that the penetrating memberwas in or the module may have separately defined sample chambers to theside of the penetrating member lumen. The analyte detecting member mayalso be placed right at the immediate vicinity or slightly setback fromthe module opening receiving blood so that low blood volumes will stillreach the analyte detecting member. In some embodiments, the analytesensing device and a visual display or other interface may be on boardthe apparatus and thus provide a readout of analyte levels without needto plug apparatus or a test strip into a separate reader device. As seenin FIG. 71, the cover 746 may also be clear to allow for light to passthrough for optical sensing. The analyte detecting member may be usedwith low volumes such as less than about 1 microliter of sample,preferably less than about 0.6 microliter, more preferably less thanabout 0.3 microliter, and most preferably less than about 0.1 microliterof sample.

[0172] In another embodiment as seen in FIG. 72, sensing elements 760may be directly printed or formed on the top of bottom of thepenetrating member cartridge 700, depending on orientation. The barepenetrating member 720 is then actuated through a hole 762 in theplastic facing, withdrawn into the radial cavity followed by the bloodsample. Electrochemical or optical detection for analyte sensing maythen be carried out (FIG. 72). Again the cavity 766 may have a clearportion to allow light to pass for optical sensing. In one embodiment, amultiplicity of miniaturized analyte detecting member fields may beplaced on the floor of the radial cavity as shown in FIG. 72 or on themicrofluidic module shown in FIG. 71 to allow many tests on a singleanalyte form a single drop of blood to improve accuracy and precision ofmeasurement. Although not limited in this manner, additional analytedetecting member fields or regions may also be included for calibrationor other purposes.

[0173] Referring now to FIG. 73, a still further embodiment of acartridge according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 73shows one embodiment of a cartridge 800 which may be removably insertedinto an apparatus for driving penetrating members to pierce skin ortissue. The cartridge 800 has a plurality of penetrating members 802that may be individually or otherwise selectively actuated so that thepenetrating members 802 may extend outward from the cartridge, asindicated by arrow 804, to penetrate tissue. In the present embodiment,the cartridge 800 may be based on a flat disc with a number ofpenetrating members such as, but in no way limited to, (25, 50, 75, 100,. . . ) arranged radially on the disc or cartridge 800. It should beunderstood that although the cartridge 800 is shown as a disc or adisc-shaped housing, other shapes or configurations of the cartridge mayalso work without departing from the spirit of the present invention ofplacing a plurality of penetrating members to be engaged, singly or insome combination, by a penetrating member driver.

[0174] Each penetrating member 802 may be contained in a cavity 806 inthe cartridge 800 with the penetrating member's sharpened end facingradially outward and may be in the same plane as that of the cartridge.The cavity 806 may be molded, pressed, forged, or otherwise formed inthe cartridge. Although not limited in this manner, the ends of thecavities 806 may be divided into individual fingers (such as one foreach cavity) on the outer periphery of the disc. The particular shape ofeach cavity 806 may be designed to suit the size or shape of thepenetrating member therein or the amount of space desired for placementof the analyte detecting members 808. For example and not limitation,the cavity 806 may have a V-shaped cross-section, a U-shapedcross-section, C-shaped cross-section, a multi-level cross section orthe other cross-sections. The opening 810 through which a penetratingmember 802 may exit to penetrate tissue may also have a variety ofshapes, such as but not limited to, a circular opening, a square orrectangular opening, a U-shaped opening, a narrow opening that onlyallows the penetrating member to pass, an opening with more clearance onthe sides, a slit, a configuration as shown in FIG. 75, or the othershapes.

[0175] In this embodiment, after actuation, the penetrating member 802is returned into the cartridge and may be held within the cartridge 800in a manner so that it is not able to be used again. By way of exampleand not limitation, a used penetrating member may be returned into thecartridge and held by the launcher in position until the next lancingevent. At the time of the next lancing, the launcher may disengage theused penetrating member with the cartridge 800 turned or indexed to thenext clean penetrating member such that the cavity holding the usedpenetrating member is position so that it is not accessible to the user(i.e. turn away from a penetrating member exit opening). In someembodiments, the tip of a used penetrating member may be driven into aprotective stop that hold the penetrating member in place after use..The cartridge 800 is replaceable with a new cartridge 800 once all thepenetrating members have been used or at such other time or condition asdeemed desirable by the user.

[0176] Referring still to the embodiment in FIG. 73, the cartridge 800may provide sterile environments for penetrating members via seals,foils, covers, polymeric, or similar materials used to seal the cavitiesand provide enclosed areas for the penetrating members to rest in. Inthe present embodiment, a foil or seal layer 820 is applied to onesurface of the cartridge 800. The seal layer 820 may be made of avariety of materials such as a metallic foil or other seal materials andmay be of a tensile strength and other quality that may provide asealed, sterile environment until the seal layer 820 is penetrate by asuitable or penetrating device providing a preselected or selectedamount of force to open the sealed, sterile environment. Each cavity 806may be individually sealed with a layer 820 in a manner such that theopening of one cavity does not interfere with the sterility in anadjacent or other cavity in the cartridge 800. As seen in the embodimentof FIG. 73, the seal layer 820 may be a planar material that is adheredto a top surface of the cartridge 800.

[0177] Depending on the orientation of the cartridge 800 in thepenetrating member driver apparatus, the seal layer 820 may be on thetop surface, side surface, bottom surface, or other positioned surface.For ease of illustration and discussion of the embodiment of FIG. 73,the layer 820 is placed on a top surface of the cartridge 800. Thecavities 806 holding the penetrating members 802 are sealed on by thefoil layer 820 and thus create the sterile environments for thepenetrating members. The foil layer 820 may seal a plurality of cavities806 or only a select number of cavities as desired.

[0178] In a still further feature of FIG. 73, the cartridge 800 mayoptionally include a plurality of analyte detecting members 808 on asubstrate 822 which may be attached to a bottom surface of the cartridge800. The substrate may be made of a material such as, but not limitedto, a polymer, a foil, or other material suitable for attaching to acartridge and holding the analyte detecting members 808. As seen in FIG.73, the substrate 822 may hold a plurality of analyte detecting members,such as but not limited to, about 10-50, 50-100, or other combinationsof analyte detecting members. This facilitates the assembly andintegration of analyte detecting members 808 with cartridge 800. Theseanalyte detecting members 808 may enable an integrated body fluidsampling system where the penetrating members 802 create a wound tractin a target tissue, which expresses body fluid that flows into thecartridge for analyte detection by at least one of the analyte detectingmembers 808. The substrate 822 may contain any number of analytedetecting members 808 suitable for detecting analytes in cartridgehaving a plurality of cavities 806. In one embodiment, many analytedetecting members 808 may be printed onto a single substrate 822 whichis then adhered to the cartridge to facilitate manufacturing andsimplify assembly. The analyte detecting members 808 may beelectrochemical in nature. The analyte detecting members 808 may furthercontain enzymes, dyes, or other detectors which react when exposed tothe desired analyte. Additionally, the analyte detecting members 808 maycomprise of clear optical windows that allow light to pass into the bodyfluid for analyte analysis. The number, location, and type of analytedetecting member 808 may be varied as desired, based in part on thedesign of the cartridge, number of analytes to be measured, the need foranalyte detecting member calibration, and the sensitivity of the analytedetecting members. If the cartridge 800 uses an analyte detecting memberarrangement where the analyte detecting members are on a substrateattached to the bottom of the cartridge, there may be through holes (asshown in FIG. 76), wicking elements, capillary tube or other devices onthe cartridge 800 to allow body fluid to flow from the cartridge to theanalyte detecting members 808 for analysis. In other configurations, theanalyte detecting members 808 may be printed, formed, or otherwiselocated directly in the cavities housing the penetrating members 802 orareas on the cartridge surface that receive blood after lancing.

[0179] The use of the seal layer 820 and substrate or analyte detectingmember layer 822 may facilitate the manufacture of these cartridges 10.For example, a single seal layer 820 may be adhered, attached, orotherwise coupled to the cartridge 800 as indicated by arrows 824 toseal many of the cavities 806 at one time. A sheet 822 of analytedetecting members may also be adhered, attached, or otherwise coupled tothe cartridge 800 as indicated by arrows 825 to provide many analytedetecting members on the cartridge at one time. During manufacturing ofone embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge 800 may be loadedwith penetrating members 802, sealed with layer 820 and a temporarylayer (not shown) on the bottom where substrate 822 would later go, toprovide a sealed environment for the penetrating members. This assemblywith the temporary bottom layer is then taken to be sterilized. Aftersterilization, the assembly is taken to a clean room (or it may alreadybe in a clear room or equivalent environment) where the temporary bottomlayer is removed and the substrate 822 with analyte detecting members iscoupled to the cartridge as shown in FIG. 73. This process allows forthe sterile assembly of the cartridge with the penetrating members 802using processes and/or temperatures that may degrade the accuracy orfunctionality of the analyte detecting members on substrate 822. As anonlimiting example, the entire cartridge 800 may then be placed in afurther sealed container such as a pouch, bag, plastic molded container,etc. . . to facilitate contact, improve ruggedness, and/or allow foreasier handling.

[0180] In some embodiments, more than one seal layer 820 may be used toseal the cavities 806. As examples of some embodiments, multiple layersmay be placed over each cavity 806, half or some selected portion of thecavities may be sealed with one layer with the other half or selectedportion of the cavities sealed with another sheet or layer, differentshaped cavities may use different seal layer, or the like. The seallayer 820 may have different physical properties, such as those coveringthe penetrating members 802 near the end of the cartridge may have adifferent color such as red to indicate to the user (if visuallyinspectable) that the user is down to say 10, 5, or other number ofpenetrating members before the cartridge should be changed out.

[0181] Referring now to FIGS. 74 and 75, one embodiment of themicrofluidics used with the analyte detecting members 808 in cartridge800 will now be described. For ease of illustration, the shape of cavity806 has been simplified into a simple wedge shape. It should beunderstood that more sophisticated configurations such as that shown inFIG. 73 may be used. FIG. 74 shows a channel 826 that assists in drawingbody fluid towards the analyte detecting members 808. In the presentembodiment, two analyte detecting members 808 are shown in the cavity806. This is purely for illustrative purposes as the cavity 806 may haveone analyte detecting member or any other number of analyte detectingmembers as desired. Body fluid entering cavity 806, while filling partof the cavity, will also be drawn by capillary action through the groove826 towards the analyte detecting members 808. The analyte detectingmembers 808 may all perform the same analysis, they may each performdifferent types of analysis, or there may be some combination of the two(some sensors perform same analysis while others perform otheranalysis).

[0182]FIG. 75 shows a perspective view of a cutout of the cavity 806.The penetrating member 802 (shown in phantom) is housed in the cavity806 and may extend outward through a penetrating member exit opening 830as indicated by arrow 832. The position of the tip of penetrating member802 may vary, such as being near the penetrating member exit port orspaced apart from the exit. The location of the tip relative to theanalyte detecting member 808 may also be varied, such as being spacedapart or away from the analyte detecting member or collocated or in theimmediate vicinity of the analyte detecting member. Fluid may then enterthe cavity 806 and directed by channel 826. The channel 826 as shown inFIG. 75 is a groove that is open on top. The channel 826 may be entirelya groove with an open top or it may have a portion that is has a sealedtop forming a lumen, or still further, the groove may be closed exceptfor an opening near the penetrating member exit opening 830. It shouldbe understood that capillary action can be achieved using a groovehaving one surface uncovered. In some embodiments, the analyte detectingmember 808 is positioned close to the penetrating member exit opening830 so that the analyte detecting member 808 may not need a capillarygroove or channel to draw body fluid, such as in FIG. 78.

[0183] As seen in FIGS. 75 and 76, the cavity 806 may include thesubstrate 822 coupled to its bottom surface containing the analytedetecting members 808. With the analyte detecting members 808 located onthe underside of the cartridge 800 as seen in the embodiment of FIG. 76,the cartridge 800 may include at least one through hole 834 to provide apassage for body fluid to pass from the cavity 806 to the analytedetecting member 808. The size, location, shape; and other features ofthe through hole 834 may be varied based on the cavity 806 and number ofanalyte detecting members 808 to be provided. In other embodiments,wicking elements or the like may be used to draw body fluid from thegroove 826 to down to the analyte detecting member 808 via the throughhole or holes 834.

[0184] Referring now to FIG. 77, a variety of groove and analytedetecting member configurations are shown on a single cartridge. Theseconfigurations are shown only for illustrative purposes and a singlecartridge may not incorporate each of these configurations. Someembodiments may use any of the detecting members, singly or incombination. It should be understood, however, that analyte detectingmember configuration could be customized for each cavity, such as butnot limited to, using a different number and location of analytedetecting members depending lancing variables associated with thatcavity, such as but not limited to, the time of day of the lancingevent, the type of analyte to be measured, the test site to be lanced,stratum corneum hydration, or other lancing parameter. As a nonlimitingexample, the detecting members may be moved closer towards the outeredge of the disc, more on the side walls, any combination, or the like.

[0185]FIG. 77 shows a penetrating member 802 in a cavity 838 with threeanalyte detecting members 808 in the cavity. For ease of illustration,the penetrating member 802 is omitted from the remaining cavities sothat the analyte detecting member configurations can be more easilyseen. Cavity 840 has a channel 826 with two analyte detecting members808. Cavity 842 has a channel 844 coupled to a single analyte detectingmember 808. Cavities 846 and 848 have one and two analyte detectingmembers 808, respectively. The analyte detecting members 808 in thosecavities may be located directly at the penetrating member exit from thecartridge or substantially at the penetrating member exit. Other analytedetecting member configurations are also possible, such as but notlimited to, placing one or more analyte detecting members on a side wallof the cavity, placing the analyte detecting members in particulararrays (for example, a linear array, triangular array, square array, etc. . . ) on the side wall or bottom surface, using mixed types of analytedetecting members (for example, electrochemical and optical, or someother combination), or mixed positioning of analyte detecting members(for example, at least one analyte detecting member on the substratebelow the cartridge and at least one analyte detecting member in thecavity).

[0186]FIG. 78 shows an embodiment of cartridge 800 where the analytedetecting member 850 is located near the distal end of cavity 806. Theanalyte detecting member 850 may be formed, deposited, or otherwiseattached there to the cartridge 800. In another embodiment, the analytedetecting member 850 may be a well or indentation having a bottom withsufficient transparency to allow an optical analyte detecting member todetect analytes in fluid deposited in the well or indentation. The wellor indentation may also include some analyte reagent that reacts(fluoresces, changes colors, or presents other detectable qualities)when body fluid is placed in the well. In a still further embodiment,analyte detecting member 850 may be replaced with a through hole thatallow fluid to pass there through. An analyte detecting member 808 on asubstrate 822 may be attached to the underside of the cartridge 800,accessing fluid passing from the cavity 806 down to the analytedetecting member 808.

[0187] As mentioned above, the analyte detecting members 808 may also beplaced right at the immediate vicinity or slightly setback from themodule opening receiving blood so that low blood volumes will stillreach the analyte detecting member. The analyte detecting members 808may be used with low volumes such as less than about 1 microliter ofsample, preferably less than about 0.6 microliter, more preferably lessthan about 0.3 microliter, and most preferably less than about 0.1microliter of sample. Analyte detecting members 808 may also be directlyprinted or formed on the bottom of the penetrating member cartridge 800.In one embodiment, a multiplicity of miniaturized analyte detectingmember fields may be placed on the floor of the radial cavity or on themicrofluidic module to allow many tests on a single analyte form asingle drop of blood to improve accuracy and precision of measurement.Although not limited in this manner, additional analyte detecting memberfields or regions may also be included for calibration or otherpurposes.

[0188] Referring now to FIGS. 79-84, further embodiments of thecartridge 800 will now be described. FIG. 79 shows a cartridge 860having a half-circular shape. FIG. 80 shows a cartridge 862 in the shapeof a partial curve. FIG. 80 also shows that the cartridges 862 may bestacked in various configurations such as vertically, horizontally, orin other orientations. FIG. 81 shows a cartridge 864 having asubstantially straight, linear configuration. FIG. 82 shows a pluralityof cartridges 864 arranged to extend radially outward from a center 866.Each cartridge may be on a slide (not shown for simplicity) that allowsthe cartridge 864 to slide radially outward to be aligned with apenetrating member launcher. After use, the cartridge 864 is slide backtowards the center 866 and the entire assembly is rotated as indicatedby arrow 868 to bring a new cartridge 864 into position for use with apenetrating member driver. FIG. 83 shows a still further embodimentwhere a plurality of cartridges 800 may be stacked for use with apenetrating member driver (see FIG. 85). The driver may be moved toalign itself with each cartridge 800 or the cartridges may be moved toalight themselves with the driver. FIG. 84 shows a still furtherembodiment where a plurality of cartridge 864 are coupled together witha flexible support to define an array. A roller 870 may be used to movethe cartridges 864 into position to be actuated by the penetratingmember driver 872.

[0189] Referring now to FIG. 85, one embodiment of an apparatus 880using a radial cartridge 800 with a penetrating member driver 882 isshown. A contoured surface 884 is located near a penetrating member exitport 886, allowing for a patient to place their finger in position forlancing. Although not shown, the apparatus 880 may include a humanreadable or other type of visual display to relay status to the user.The display may also show measured analyte levels or other measurementor feedback to the user without the need to plug apparatus 880 or aseparate test strip into a separate analyte reader device. The apparatus880 may include a processor or other logic for actuating the penetratingmember or for measuring the analyte levels. The cartridge 800 may beloaded into the apparatus 880 by opening a top housing of the apparatuswhich may be hinged or removably coupled to a bottom housing. Thecartridge 800 may also drawn into the apparatus 880 using a loadingmechanism similar in spirit to that found on a compact disc player orthe like. In such an embodiment, the apparatus may have a slot (similarto a CD player in an automobile) that allows for the insertion of thecartridge 800 into the apparatus 880 which is then automatically loadedinto position or otherwise seated in the apparatus for operationtherein. The loading mechanism may be mechanically powered orelectrically powered. In some embodiments, the loading mechanism may usea loading tray in addition to the slot. The slot may be placed higher onthe housing so that the cartridge 800 will have enough clearance to beloaded into the device and then dropped down over the penetrating memberdriver 882. The cartridge 800 may have an indicator mark or indexingdevice that allows the cartridge to be properly aligned by the loadingmechanism or an aligning mechanism once the cartridge 800 is placed intothe apparatus 880. The cartridge 800 may rest on a radial platform thatrotates about the penetrating member driver 882, thus providing a methodfor advancing the cartridge to bring unused penetrating members toengagement with the penetrating member driver. The cartridge 800 on itsunderside or other surface, may shaped or contoured such as withnotches, grooves, tractor holes, optical markers, or the like tofacilitate handling and/or indexing of the cartridge. These shapes orsurfaces may also be varied so as to indicate that the cartridge isalmost out of unused penetrating members, that there are only fivepenetrating members left, or some other cartridge status indicator asdesired.

[0190] A suitable method and apparatus for loading penetrating membershas been described previously in commonly assigned, copending U.S.patent applications Attorney Docket 38187-2589 and 38187-2590, and areincluded here by reference for all purposes. Suitable devices forengaging the penetrating members and for removing protective materialsassociated with the penetrating member cavity are described in commonlyassigned, copending U.S. patent applications Attorney Docket 38187-2601and 38187-2602, and are included here by reference for all purposes. Forexample in the embodiment of FIG. 78, the foil or seal layer 820 maycover the cavity by extending across the cavity along a top surface 890and down along the angled surface 892 to provide a sealed, sterileenvironment for the penetrating member and analyte detecting memberstherein. A piercing element described in U.S. patent applicationsAttorney Docket 38187-2602 has a piercing element and then a shapedportion behind the element which pushes the foil to the sides of thecavity or other position so that the penetrating member 802 may beactuated and body fluid may flow into the cavity.

[0191] Referring now to FIG. 86, a still further embodiment of a lancingsystem according to the present invention will be described. A radialcartridge 500 may be incorporated for use with a penetrating memberdriver 882. A penetrating member may be driven outward as indicated byarrow 894. A plurality of analyte detecting members are presented on aroll 895 that is laid out near a penetrating member exit. The roll 895may be advanced as indicated by arrow 896 so that used analyte detectingmembers are moved away from the active site. The roll 895 may also bereplaced by a disc holding a plurality of analyte detecting members,wherein the analyte detecting member disc (not shown) is oriented in aplane substantially orthogonal to the plane of cartridge 500. Theanalyte detecting member disc may also be at other angles not parallelto the plane of cartridge 500 so as to be able to rotate and presentnew, unused analyte detecting member in sequence with new unusedpenetrating members of cartridge 500.

[0192] Referring now to FIG. 87A, the cartridge 500 provides a highdensity packaging system for a lancing system. This form factor allows apatient to load a large number penetrating members through a singlecartridge while maintaining a substantially handheld device. Of coursesuch a cartridge 500 may also be used in non-handheld devices. Thepresent cartridge 500 provide a high test density per volume of thedisposable. For embodiments of a cartridge that includes analytedetecting members in addition to penetrating members such as cartridge800, the density may also be measured in terms of density of analytedetecting members and penetrating members in a disposable. In otherembodiments, the density may also be expressed in terms of analytedetecting members per disposable. For example, by taking the physicalvolume of one embodiment or the total envelope, this number can bedivided by the number of penetrating members or number of tests. Thisresult is the volume per penetrating member or per test in a cassettedfashion. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, thetotal volume of the cartridge 500 is determined to be 4.53 cubiccentimeters. In this one embodiment, the cartridge 500 holds 50penetrating members. Dividing the volume by 50, the volume per test isarrived at 0.090 cubic centimeters. Conventional test devices such asdrum is in the range of 0.720 or 0.670 cubic centimeters and that issimply the volume to hold a plurality of test strips. This does notinclude penetrating members as does the present embodiment 800. Thus,the present embodiment is at a substantially higher density. Even aslightly lower density device having penetrating members and analytedetecting members in the 0.500 cubic centimeter range would be a vastimprovement over known devices since the numbers listed above for knowndevices does not include penetrating members, only packaging per teststrip.

[0193] Each penetrating member (or penetrating member and analytedetecting member, as the case may be ) may have a packing density, oroccupied volume, in cartridge 500. In various embodiments, the packingdensity or occupied volume of each penetrating member in cartridge 500may be no more than about 0.66 cm3, 0.05 cm3, 0.4 cm3, 0.3 cm3, 0.2 cm3,0.1 cm3, 0.075 cm3, 0.05 cm3, 0.025 cm3, 0.01 cm3, 0.090 cm3, 0.080 cm3,and the like. These numbers applicable to volumes for penetratingmembers alone, or for combined penetrating members and analyte detectingmembers. In other words, the volume required for each penetrating memberdoes not exceed 0.66 cm3/penetrating member, 0.05 cm3/penetratingmember, 0.4 cm3/penetrating member, 0.3 cm3/penetrating member, 0.2cm3/penetrating member, 0.1 cm3/penetrating member, 0.075cm3/penetrating member, 0.05 cm3/penetrating member, 0.025cm3/penetrating member, 0.01 cm3/penetrating member, 0.090cm3/penetrating member and the like. So, if the total package volume ofthe cartridge is defined as X and the cartridge includes Y number ofpenetrating members, penetrating members and test area, or other unit395, the volume for each unit does not exceed 0.66 cm3, 0.05 cm3, 0.4cm3, 0.3 cm3, 0.2 cm3, 0.1 cm3, 0.075 cm3, 0.05 cm3, 0.025 cm3, 0.01cm3, 0.090 cm3, 0.080 cm3, and the like.

[0194] Referring now to FIG. 87B, a still further embodiment of acartridge according to the present invention will now be described. FIG.87B shows a cross-section of a conical shaped cartridge with thepenetrating member being oriented in one embodiment to move radiallyoutward as indicated by arrow 897. In another embodiment, thepenetrating member may be oriented to move radially inward as indicatedby arrow 895. The gripper may be positioned to engage the penetratingmember from an inner surface or an outer surface of the cartridge.

[0195] Referring now to FIG. 88, nanowires may also be used to createlow volume analyte detecting members used with the cartridge 800.Further details of a nanowire device is described in commonly assigned,copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. ______ (AttorneyDocket No. 38187-2605) filed Dec. 13, 2002, fully incorporated herein byreference for all purposes. These nanowire analyte detecting members 898may be incorporated into the cavity 806 housing the penetrating member802. They may be placed on the floor or bottom surface of the cavity806, on the wall, on the top surface, or any combinations of some or allof these possibilities. The analyte detecting members 898 may bedesigned to have different sensitivity ranges so as to enhance theoverall sensitivity of an array of such analyte detecting members.Methods to achieve this may include, but are not limited to, usingnanowires of varying sizes, varying the number of nanowires, or varyingthe amount of glucose oxidase or other glucose detection material on thenanowires. These nanowire analyte detecting members may be designed touse low volumes of body fluid for each sample, due to their size. Insome embodiments, each of the analyte detecting members are accurateusing volumes of body fluid sample less than about 500 nanoliters. Insome embodiments, each of the analyte detecting members are accurateusing volumes of body fluid sample less than about 300 nanoliters. Instill other embodiments, each analyte detecting member is accurate withless than about 50 nanoliters, less than about 30 nanoliters, less thanabout 10 nanoliters, less than about 5 nanoliters, and less than about 1nanoliters of body fluid sample. In some embodiments, the combined arrayof analyte detecting members uses less than 300 nanoliters of body fluidto arrive at an analyte measurement.

[0196] Referring now to FIG. 89, a still further embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. FIG. 89 shows one embodiment of anoptical illumination system 910 for use with optical analyte detectingmembers (FIG. 91) that may be in contact with a body fluid sample. Theoverall system may include a plurality of analyte detecting memberswhich provide some optical indicator, a light source 912 for providinglight to shine on the analyte detecting members, at least one lightdetector 914, and a processor (not shown). The analyte detecting memberor analyte detecting members are exposed to a sample of the fluid ofunknown composition. A plurality of analyte detecting members may bearranged into an array of analyte detecting members exposed to one fluidsample, each group targeting a specific analyte and may contain ananalyte-specific chemical that interacts more specifically with oneanalyte than with some other analytes to be analyzed. Each analytedetecting member may also have different sensitivity ranges so as tomaximize overall sensitivity of an array of such analyte detectingmembers. The light source 912 shines light on at least one analytedetecting member to cause light interaction. The differences in theanalyte detecting members may lead to differences in the lightinteraction. The light detector detects the light interaction by theanalyte detecting members. The processor analyzes the light interactionby the analyte detecting members to take into account interference inlight interaction among the analytes, thereby determining theconcentration of the desired analyte in the fluid.

[0197] Referring still to the embodiment of FIG. 89, the light source912 may be but is not limited to an LED. An alternative LED 915 may alsobe used with the present invention. Light, illumination, or excitationenergy from LED 912 travels along a path through a pinhole 916, a filter917, and a lens 918. The light then comes into contact with abeamsplitter 919 such as a dichroic mirror or other device useful forbeamsplitting. The light is then directed towards lens 920 as indicatedby arrow 921. The lens 920 focuses light onto the analyte detectingmember (FIG. 91). This excitation energy may cause a detectable opticalindicator from the analyte detecting member. By way of example and notlimitation, fluorescence energy may be reflected bay up the lens 920.This energy passes through the beamsplitter 919 and to lens 922 which isthen received by detector 914 as indicated by arrow 923. The detector914 measures the energy and this information is passed on to theprocessor (not shown) to determine analyte levels. The illuminationsystem 910 may also include cells 924 on the disc surface. In thisspecific embodiment, a penetrating member 925 drive by a force generator926 such as but not limited to a solenoid may be used to obtain thefluid sample. A detent 927 may also be included with the device alongwith other bare lancets or penetrating members 928.

[0198] Referring now to FIG. 90, another embodiment of the illuminationsystem 910 is shown for use with a cartridge 929. Cartridge 929 issimilar to cartridge 800. Cartridge 929 is a single cartridge having aplurality of penetrating members and a plurality of optical analytedetecting members (not shown). The cartridge 929 further includes aplurality of optically transparent portions 930 which may be but is notlimited to windows or the like for the light from LED 912 to shine intoa cavity of the cartridge 929. In one embodiment, each cavity of thecartridge 929 may include at least one transparent portion 930. Thisallows the light to generate energy that may be read by analytedetecting member 914. The cartridge 929 may be used a driver 882 toactuate penetrating members and the cartridge 929 may rotate asindicated by arrow 931.

[0199] Referring now to FIG. 91, a cross-section of a similar embodimentof the illumination system is shown. This system 932 has source 912 witha lens 933 having an excitation filter 934. This excitation filter 934,in one embodiment, only allows excitation energy to pass. This filter934 allows the excitation energy to pass to dichroic mirror 935, butdoes not let it return to source 912. Excitation energy is reflecteddown as indicated by arrow 936. Lens 937 focuses the energy to opticalanalyte detecting member 938. Fluorescence energy 939 passes through thedichroic mirror 935 and towards a fluorescent filter 940. In oneembodiment, the fluorescent filter 940 only allows fluorescent energy topass through to lens 941. Thus, the detector 914 only receivesfluorescent energy from the analyte detecting member 938. It should beunderstood of course, that the filter may be changed to allow the typeof energy being generated by analyte detecting member 938 to pass. Insome embodiments, no filter may be used. The dichroic mirror 935 may bea Bk7 substrate, 63×40×8 mm. The filters may also be a Bk7 substrateabout 40 mm in diameter and about 6 mm thick. The lens 933, 937, and 941may be achormat:bfl=53.6, working aperture 38 mm.

[0200] Referring now to FIG. 92, a still further embodiment of anillumination system 942 will be described. This system does not use abeamsplitter or dichroic mirror. Instead, both the source or LED 912 anddetector 914 have direct line of sight to the optical analyte detectingmember 938. In this embodiment, multiple elements are combined into asingle housing. For example, lens 943, lens 944, and filter 945 arecombined while lens 946, lens 947, and filter 948 are also combined.

[0201] Referring now to FIG. 93, a cross-section of a system similar tothat of FIG. 89 is shown in a housing 950. LED 912 sends light to mirror919 to a light path 951 to cells 924 on a surface of the disc. A fingeraccess 952 allows a sample to be obtained and flow along a fluid pathway953 to be analyzed. A processor 954 may be coupled to detector 914 toanalyze the results.

[0202] Referring now to FIG. 94, a cross-section of a system similar tothat of FIG. 90 will be further described. This shows a cartridge 929used with a driver 882. This allows for a radial design where thepenetrating members extend radially outward as indicated by arrow 955.The driver 882 may have a coupler portion that reciprocates as indicatedby arrow 956. FIGS. 95 and 96 provide further views of a system similarto that of FIG. 89. The embodiment of FIGS. 95 and 96 may includeadditional lenses or filters as may be useful to refine energydetection.

[0203] Referring now to FIG. 97, the area of interest is the velocityprofile 1000 while the lancet is cutting through the skin layers in thefinger until it reaches a predetermined depth. More specifically,variation of lancet velocity through different phases of the inboundtrajectory is shown in FIG. 97. In this embodiment, Phase I correspondsto the stratum corneum, phase II to the epidermis and phase III to thedermis. At each phase (and during the phase), the options are tomaintain current velocity, increase current velocity or decrease currentvelocity. Based on the thickness of the stratum corneum, velocity couldbe monitored and changed in this embodiment at 9 points in the stratumcorneum, 6 points in the epidermis, and 29 points in the dermis usingthe four edge detection algorithm and the 360 strips per inch encoderstrip. It should be noted that although the embodiment of the driverdiscussed herein produces the previously discussed number of monitoringpoints for a given displacement, other driver and position sensorembodiments may be used that would give higher or lower resolution.

[0204] For the purposes of the present discussion for this nonlimitingexample, the skin is viewed as having three distinct regions or tissuelayers: the stratum corneum SC (Phase I), the epidermis E (Phase II) andthe dermis D (Phase III). In one embodiment, the lancet or penetratingmember 10 is accelerated to a first desired velocity. This velocity maybe predetermined or it may be calculated by the processor duringactuation. The processor is also used to control the lancet velocity intissue. At this velocity, the lancet 10 will impact the skin andinitiate cutting through the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum ishard, hence in this embodiment, maximum velocity of the penetratingmember 10 may be employed to efficiently cut through this layer, andthis velocity may be maintained constant until the lancet passes throughthe layer. Power will likely need to be applied to the lancet drive 12while the lancet is cutting through the stratum corneum in order tomaintain the first velocity. Average stratum corneum thickness is about225 μm. Using a four-edge detection algorithm for the position sensor 14of this embodiment, the opportunity to verify and feed back velocityinformation can be carried out at 225/17 or roughly 13 points. Inanother embodiment accelerating through the stratum corneum followingimpact may improve cutting efficiency. Acceleration may be possible ifthe lancet has not reached its target or desired velocity before impact.FIG. 4 shows the result of increasing ((a) arrows, maintaining ((b)arrows) or reducing ((c) arrows) velocity on the lancet trajectory foreach of the tissue layers.

[0205] On reaching the epidermis E (Phase II), an embodiment of a methodmay decrease the velocity ((c) arrows) from the first velocity so thattissue compression is reduced in this second tissue layer. Thus thelancet 10, in this nonlimiting example, may have a second desiredvelocity that is less than the first velocity. The reduced speed in thesecond tissue layer may reduce the pain experienced by the mechanoreceptor nerve cells in the dermal layer (third tissue layer). In theabsence of tissue compression effects on the dermal layer, however,lancet velocity may be kept constant for efficient cutting (i.e. secondvelocity may be maintained the same as the first velocity). In anotherembodiment, velocity may be increased in the second tissue layer fromthe first velocity.

[0206] In Phase III, the lancet or penetrating member 10 may reach theblood vessels and cut them to yield blood. The innervation of this thirdtissue layer and hence pain perception during lancing could be easilyaffected by the velocity profile chosen. In one embodiment, a thirddesired velocity may be chosen. The velocity may be chosen to minimizenerve stimulation while maintaining cutting efficiency. One embodimentwould involve reducing velocity from the second velocity to minimizepain, and may increase it just before the blood vessels to be cut. Thenumber of velocity measurement steps possible for the position sensordescribed above in the dermis is approximately 58. The user woulddetermine the best velocity/cutting profile by usage. The profile withthe least amount of pain on lancing, yielding a successful blood samplewould be programmable into the device.

[0207] Currently users optimize depth settings on mechanical launchersby testing various settings and through usage, settle on a desiredsetting based on lancing comfort. Embodiments of the device and methodsdiscussed herein provide a variety of velocity profiles (FIG. 97), whichcan be optimized by the user for controlled lancing, and may include:controlling the cutting speed of a lancet with the lancet within theskin; adjusting the velocity profile of the lancet while the lancet isin the skin based upon the composition of the skin layers; lancingaccording to precise regional velocity profiles based on variation incell type from the surface of the skin down through the epidermis, anddermis; lancing at a desired velocity through any tissue layer andvarying the velocity for each layer. This may include maximum velocitythrough the stratum corneum, mediation of velocity through epidermis tominimize shock waves to pain sensors in dermis, and mediation ofvelocity through dermis for efficient cutting of blood vessels withoutstimulating pain receptors. Additional details may be found in commonlyassigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (AttorneyDocket No. 38187-2664) filed Apr. 21, 2003, included herein byreference.

[0208] Referring now to FIG. 98, a still further embodiment of anactuator according to the present invention will now be described. Thepresent invention relates to an actuator 1010 that will launch a lancetor penetrating member 1020 into skin or an anatomical feature in acontrolled manner so as to produce a small drop of blood or body fluidwhile minimizing patient discomfort. As a nonlimiting example, energystored in a compressed spring, gas, or other actuation technique isreleased to actuate a lancet 1020. Through the use of processor 1012,the motion of the lancet or penetrating member 1020 is controlled by aniron-loaded fluid 1022 that changes viscosity in response to an imposedmagnetic field. A motor or other device (not shown) may be used tocontrol the retraction rate of the lancet 1020 from the skin or othertargeted anatomical feature. It should be understood, of course, thatother magnetically controllable fluid as known to those skilled in theart may also be used.

[0209]FIG. 98 documents the concept of using a magnetic fluid to controlthe action of a mechanical spring. In the embodiment of FIG. 98, energyis stored in the compressed spring and released at the time ofactuation. As previously discussed, other actuators besides thecompressed spring may also be used without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention. The motion of the lancet is controlled by meansof an electromagnet that is arranged to produce a magnetic field in afluid consisting of fine iron particles suspended in oil, siliconefluid, or other medium. When a magnetic field is imposed on the fluid,the iron particles align with the field, and resist motion. Fluidfirmness increases with field strength. A suitable fluid can bepurchased as MRF-132AD Rheonetic Fluid from Lord Corporation (888)811-5673.

[0210]FIG. 99 provide details about launching and resetting the actuatorfor the present embodiment. A firing catch 1030 is shown to hold thespring 1010 in a cocked position prior to firing. An opticallyreflective member such as a flag 1032 is shown attached to the lancetcoupler 1034 to provide position feedback through an optical positiontransducer. In some embodiments, the flag 1032 may be attached to adrive shaft (not shown). This feedback allows a processor 1012 tomodulate the current to the electromagnetic coil or other magnetic fieldgenerator as known to one skilled in the art, to control the actuationprofile of the lancet. A disc 1036 is shown attached to the penetratingmember coupler 1034 and the disc is submerged in the rheonetic fluid.Suitable seals may be used to contain the fluid while allowing the shaft1038 to pass through the dashpot chamber. In some embodiments, the disc1036 is mounted about shaft 1040 and the entire dashpot chamber is alsomounted about a portion of the shaft 1040. A motor 1042, or otherretraction device is shown to move the dashpot and carry the drive shaftback to the cocked position. The motor then resets the dashpot to thedesired stop position, and the actuation cycle is ready to repeat.

[0211] One advantage of this design is that each actuator can be matchedto a portion of the actuation cycle. Rapid energy release is provided bythe spring 1010 to bring the lancet or penetrating member 1020 up tospeed. In one embodiment, excess energy stored in the spring allows theactuator 1010 to maintain the desired lancet speed regardless of skin ortissue consistency. The rheonetic fluid 1022 in the dashpot, controlledby the electromagnet, dissipates the excess energy from the spring 1010.A DC reset motor 1042 can be driven at variable speeds by controllingthe motor drive current. By this means, the retraction speed of thelancet can be controlled.

[0212] Another advantage of this present embodiment is that powerconsumption is reduced through the use of a small DC motor instead of asolenoid. The motor draws energy from a battery at a much lower rate andover a longer time, resulting in more efficient battery use.

[0213] In another aspect, the present embodiment provides a device forstoring and rapidly releasing energy. The device controls the release ofstored energy to control motion, controls the release of energy toprovide a low impact stop, controls the storage of energy to controlretraction motion, and stores energy for rapid release at the start ofthe next cycle.

[0214]FIG. 100 shows that embodiments of the lancet actuators of FIGS.98 and 99 may be configured for use with a radial cartridge 1050 havinga plurality of penetrating members 1020. Accordingly, these launchersmay be coupled with single use or multiple use lancing devices. As anonlimiting example, these devices may be used with a cartridge 500.

[0215]FIG. 101 shows a more detailed view of one embodiment of anelectromagnetic field generator 1052 coupled to a power source 1054controlled by a processor 1012.

[0216]FIG. 102 shows a still further embodiment similar to that shown inFIG. 99. This embodiment includes an actuator 1010 (shown in thisnonlimiting example to be a spring), a disc 1036 coaxially mounted abouta shaft 1040 in a ferrofluid 1022, and a flag 1032 for monitoring lancetor penetrating member position. The launch device of FIG. 102 may alsobe adapted for use with a radial cartridge (shown in phantom) having aplurality of penetrating members 1020 which may be coupled to thecoupler 1034.

[0217] Referring still to FIG. 102, energy is stored in the compressedspring used as actuator 1010 and is released at the time of actuation.In this embodiment, the motion of the penetrating member 1020 iscontrolled by an electromagnet 1052 that is arranged to produce amagnetic field in a fluid consisting of fine iron particles or othermaterial suspended in but not limited to oil, silicone fluid, or othermedium. When a magnetic field is imposed on the fluid, the ironparticles align with the field, and resist motion. Fluid firmnessincreases with field strength. Such fluid can be purchased as MRF-132ADRheonetic Fluid from Lord Corporation (888) 811-5673. A flag is shownattached to the drive shaft to provide position feedback through anoptical position transducer. This feedback allows a processor tomodulate the current to the electromagnetic coil to control theactuation profile of the lancet. A disc is shown attached to the driveshaft and submerged in the rheonetic fluid. Suitable seals are requiredto contain the fluid while allowing the shaft to pass through thedashpot chamber. A motor, or other driving device is shown to move thedashpot and carry the drive shaft back to the cocked position. The motorthen resets the dashpot to the desired stop position, and the actuationcycle is ready to repeat. The advantage of this design is that eachactuator may be matched to a portion of the actuation cycle. Rapidenergy release is provided by the spring to bring the lancet up tospeed. Excess energy stored in the spring allows the actuator tomaintain the desired lancet speed regardless of skin consistency. Therheonetic fluid in the dashpot, controlled by the electromagnet,dissipates the excess energy from the spring. Of course, other dashpotsor dampers as disclosed herein or as known to one of skill in the artmay also be used. In one embodiment, a DC reset motor can be driven atvariable speeds by controlling the motor drive current. By this motor,the retraction speed of the penetrating member 1020 can be controlled. Asecond advantage of this invention is that power consumption is reducedthrough the use of a small DC motor instead of a solenoid. The motordraws energy from a battery at a much lower rate and over a longer time,resulting in more efficient battery use. This hybrid device could alsobe configured to yield a “smart braking” pattern so that residual painis minimized.

[0218] Referring now to FIGS. 103A to 103E, a still further embodimentof a lancing apparatus relates to the spring actuation of a lancet topierce the skin of a finger to produce a drop of blood for analysis.Blood yield may be increased by causing the lancet to dwell at the endof its stroke, and then retract at a slower rate.

[0219] As seen in FIG. 103A, one embodiment of a simple lancet launcher1060 comprises a compressed spring 1062 driving a moving mass 1064 thatis attached to a lancet or penetrating member 1020 that pierces the skinor a targeted anatomical feature. When released (as seen in FIG. 103B),the spring 1062 accelerates the mass 1064 to a maximum speed at, ornear, the point of contact between the lancet and skin. As thepenetrating member 1020 pierces the skin or anatomical feature, thedrive spring 1062 is extended and begins to slow the penetrating member1020 (FIG. 103C). The lancet penetration depth is set approximately byproviding an adjustable mechanical stop 1066 for the moving mass. Assoon as the mass and lancet are stopped (FIG. 103D), the actuationspring 1062, which is extended by the momentum of the mass, begins towithdraw the lancet.

[0220] In some embodiments, electronic actuation methods can delay thestart of the retraction, providing a dwell of the penetrating member1020 in the skin or tissue to allow some visco-elastic setting of theskin and promoting blood yield. Electronic actuators can also withdrawthe lancet slowly to allow the blood to fill the wound channel, alsopromoting blood yield.

[0221] One economical solution to the lancet dwell requirement is todetach the drive spring 1062 from the actuator housing, preventingextension of the spring. As illustrated in FIG. 103A, the drive spring1062 accelerates the mass 1064 and lancet 1020 to speed, then travelswith the mass as the lancet enters the skin. At impact of the mass 1064with the travel stop 1066, the spring 1062 continues to move until it isbrought to a stop in a partially compressed state (FIG. 103D). The drivespring 1062 then rebounds and carries the mass 1064 and lancet 1020 withit (FIG. 103E). By adjusting the weight and spring constant of the drivespring, the length of dwell produced by the drive spring rebound can bevaried. Some control over the retraction speed can be had throughadjusting the weight and damping of the drive spring.

[0222] In a still further embodiment, adding a second, lowerspring-constant, return spring 1070 can provide further control over theretraction speed. This return spring or return springs 1070 also insuresthat the penetrating member 1020 retracts into the actuator housinginstead of relying on the kinetic energy of the rebounding drive spring1070. As seen in FIGS. 104A-104C, a variety of return devices may beused. In FIG. 104A, the rebounding drive spring 1070 comprises anelastomeric element. In FIG. 104B, two rebounding springs 1072 and 1074are used. As seen in FIG. 104C, a single spring 1076 may be coaxiallymounted about the penetrating member 1020. In one regard, theembodiments shown in FIGS. 103-104 allow some control over the dwell andretraction speed of the lancet without resorting to expensiveelectronics. As a nonlimiting example, these embodiments of FIGS.103-104 may provide a dwell time for a lancet while piercing skin, aslower retraction rate during lancet withdrawal, and positive retractionof the lancet. The mechanism may be purely mechanical and less costlythat electronic solutions.

[0223] Referring now to FIG. 105, a still further embodiment of anactuator according to the present invention will now be described. Theembodiment in FIG. 105 includes an inbound drive device 1080 and anoutbound retraction device 1082. As seen in the FIG. 105, the inbounddrive device 1080 is in its forward position. The inbound drive device1080 includes a plunger 1084 mounted with a spring 1086. Pulling back onthe plunger 1084 pulls back on the gripper block 1088 and compresses thespring 1086. In this embodiment, a piston 1090 that slides into thedamper 1092 also moves with the plunger 1084. As the plunger 1084 ispulled back, it will come to a position (not shown) where the latch 1094engages the gripper block 1088 and holds the plunger 1084 in a launchposition. A button or other linking device may be coupled to the latch1094 to allow a user to launch the penetrating member 1020.

[0224] Moving the latch 1094 will release the gripper block 1088,release the energy in the compressed spring 1086, and drive thepenetrating member 1020 towards the tissue or anatomical feature. Itshould be noted that in this embodiment, the open end 1096 of the damper1092 is cone or funnel shaped. So initially, as the piston 1090 fliesinto the damper 1092, it is flying there through air. As the piston 1090is advanced, it runs into a narrowed portion of the damper 1092 thatprovides a close fit with the piston 1090. In some embodiments, theremay be an interference fit between the piston 1090 and the narrowedportion of the damper 1092. In other embodiments, elastomeric material,other damping material, damping structure, or any combination of any ofthese elements may be used to provide a desired deceleration velocityprofile. In this nonlimiting example, the damper 1092 provides variabledamping as it allows the gripper block 1088 to be accelerated to itsterminal velocity, driving the penetrating member 1020 at this highvelocity, before encountering the damper 1092. As the piston travelsfurther into the damper, the damping factor may increase and providefurther deceleration to the gripper block 1088, thus also deceleratingthe penetrating member 1020. In one embodiment, the gripper block 1088slows to near a complete stop prior to encountering the hard stop 1098on the carrier 1100. In some embodiments, the hard stop 1098 may becovered with an elastomeric material, other damping material, dampingstructure, or any combination of any of these elements to provide acontrolled stop of the gripper block.

[0225] Referring still to the embodiment of FIG. 105, the outboundretraction device 1082 may use a motor 1102, or motor/gear boxcombination, to turn a screw 1104 and retract carrier 1100 housing theinbound drive device 1080. A switch 1106 positioned at the stop or someother sensor device may be used to indicate when the inbound stroke iscompleted. In other embodiments, the motor 1102 or motor/gear boxcombination may be activated prior to the gripper block 1088 impactingthe stop or prior to the gripper block 1088 coming to a complete stop.In such an embodiment, a sensor (not shown) may be positioned at alocation prior to the gripper block 1088 reaching the stop 1098 andactivate the motor 1102. This may provide a further method fordecelerating or braking the gripper block 1088. In some embodiments,retraction by the outbound device 1082 may be delayed for a selectableamount of time such as, but not limited to, 1-200 ms to allow thepenetrating member to come to rest in the tissue. In some furtherembodiments, retraction by the outbound device 1082 may be initiated fora selectable distance such as, but not limited to, about 20-50 micronsbased on how far the screw 1104 pulls back on carrier 1126, and thenstopped. It should be understood of course, that other distances such asabout 50-75 microns, 75-100 microns, 100-125 microns may also beselected. This may be also used to minimize oscillation of thepenetrating member 1020 against the tissue by withdrawing thepenetrating member a small amount while the penetrating member 1020 iscoming to rest against the stop 1096. After the penetrating member 1020has come to a stop, it may be held for a selectable amount of time, suchas but not limited to 1-200 ms and then withdrawn, or in someembodiments, it may be withdrawn without a delay period. All of theabove elements may be coupled to a chassis 1108.

[0226] The depth of penetration by the penetrating member 1020 may alsobe determined by using the screw 1104 to control the position of thecarrier 1126. This controls depth since the protrusion distance by thepenetrating member 1020 from the carrier 1126 is substantially constant.Thus by varying the position of the carrier 1126 in this embodiment, thepenetration depth of the member 1020 relative to the front end 1127 isselectable. The position of the carrier 1126 may be selectable beforeeach lancing event. The position of carrier 1126 may be determined bythe user. The position of carrier 1126 may also be determined by aprocessor (not shown) which may track the penetration depth of previouslancing events and match it with some other variable such as but notlimited to pain feedback number from the user, spontaneous bloodgeneration, user hydration, or any other variable as described incommonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______(Attorney Docket No. 38187-2634) filed Dec. 31, 2002. The screw 1104 maybe controlled to provide varied depth control with resolution such as,but not limited to, about 1-5 microns, about 5-20 microns, otherdistance per adjustment. In some embodiments, this motor may be astepper motor. In other embodiments, it may be an actuator such as butnot limited to a pneumatic actuator, electric motor, or device with aposition sensor to provide feedback as to carrier position.

[0227] Referring now to FIGS. 106 to 109 show a still further embodimentof a device having an inbound drive device 1110 and an outboundretraction device 1112. Referring now the configuration shown in FIG.106, the inbound drive device 1110 may include a spring 1086 coupled toa gripper block 1088. A plunger 1114 is provided for use with a damper1116 mounted concentrically about the shaft of the plunger. A latch 1094with a flag portion 1118 is used to hold the gripper block 1088 in alaunch position with the spring 1086 compressed. As seen in FIG. 106,the penetrating member 1020 may be guided by a front bearing 1120 and arear bearing 1122. It should be understood, that some embodiments mayuse one bearing, while other embodiments, may use two or more bearings.The type of clearance and support provided by the bearing may also beselectable. As a nonlimiting example, the bearings 1120 and 1122 may bestructures with openings therethrough and have side-to-side clearancefrom about 20-40 microns and a vertical clearance from about 40-60microns. Other embodiments may have greater clearances such as, but notlimited to, about 60-100 microns, about 100-300 microns, or the like.

[0228] Referring now to FIG. 107, the device is now shown in a firedconfiguration with the penetrating member 1020 positioned fully forward.As seen, the gripper block 1088 or penetrating member coupler is nowresting against the stop 1126. Prior to the gripper block 1088 coming toa rest, the damper 1116 (shown more clearly in FIG. 110) will engage theplunger 1114 to slow the gripper block 1088 prior to the block coming torest.

[0229] Referring now to FIG. 108, the device is now shown with theplunger 1116 and gripper block 1088 in a fired configuration. However,the entire carrier 1130 having the gripper block 1088 and plunger 1116is retracted in the direction indicated by arrow 1132. As the carrier1130 is drawn into the position shown in FIG. 108, the reset latch 1134coupled to the chassis 1136 will lock into position against the gripperblock 1088. With the reset latch 1134 in this position, the spring 1086can be compressed and the gripper block 1088 moved back into its launchposition by moving the carrier 1126 forward as shown in FIG. 109.

[0230] Referring now to FIG. 109, carrier 1130 is advanced as indicatedby arrow 1140. As the carrier 1130 is advanced by the screw 1104, thelatch 1094 will ride over the gripper block 1088 and then drop intoplace as shown in FIG. 109. The position in FIG. 109 shows the latch1094 locked against the gripper block 1088. A flag 1142 or cam surfaceoffset to the side of the latch 1094 will engage a flag 1144 or camsurface on the reset latch 1134. This moves the reset latch 1134downward, releasing the latch from its locked position against thegripper block 1088. Eventually, the reset latch 1134 will rideunderneath the gripper block 1088 until the reset latch 1134 comes torest in a position as shown in FIG. 106. In other embodiments, the resetlatch 1124 maybe coupled to a disposable such as a cartridge containinga plurality of penetrating members. In other embodiments, the resetlatch 1134 may be attached to the same frame of reference as that of themotor 1102. It may be part of the launcher and not the disposable. As anonlimiting example, a cantilever beam may run from the chassis portionunder the motor 1102 to hold the reset latch 1134 in position, as partof the launcher and not the disposable.

[0231]FIG. 110 shows an enlarged view of one embodiment of the damper1116. The damper 1116 may have a surface 1150 that is funnel shaped anda second surface 1152 configured to engage the widened portion 1154 ofthe plunger 1114. It should be understood that the shape of the surface1152 may be varied to create the desired velocity deceleration profile.As a nonlimiting example, the surface 1152 may define an interferencefit with the plunger 1114. In another embodiment, the damper 1116 ismade of an elastomeric material and may function to provide moreresistance against motion in one direction than another. This may be duein part to the elastomeric quality of the material which forms about thepenetrating member during withdrawal from the damper 1116 to hold thepenetrating member in. In some embodiments, the damper 1116 iscylindrical about plunger 1114. In other embodiments, the damper 1116may simply be two opposing surfaces 1152 and 1153, without fullysurround the shaft, that provides frictional resistance to the travel ofthe plunger 1114.

[0232] Referring now to FIG. 111, a cross sectional view is shown of aspring-based penetrating member driver according to the presentinvention. In the embodiment of FIG. 111, a gripper block 1160 is usedto engage a penetrating member 1020. The gripper block 1 160 is coupledto a shaft 1162 that has an enlarged end portion 1164. A drive spring1166 is provided about the shaft 1162 and compresses between the gripperblock 1160 and the protrusion 1168. In one embodiment, a second spring1170 may also be provided and coupled to the shaft 1162 and theprotrusion 1168. In such an embodiment, the second spring 1170 may beconfigured as a return spring to urge the penetrating member 1020 backinto the cartridge after the member has penetrated tissue. In someembodiments, a soft stop 1172 may also be used to assist the return ofthe penetrating member 1020 into the cartridge 1173. A plunger 1174 maybe pulled back in the direction indicated by arrow 1 176 to place thegripper block 1160 and the penetrating member 1020 in a launchconfiguration. Release of trigger 1178 will cause the penetrating member1020 to launch.

[0233] Referring now to FIG. 112, it shown that in one embodiment wherethe gripper block extends into the cartridge 1173, the launcher and thecartridge 1173 maybe vertically separated as indicated by arrow 1180 toallow the cartridge 1173 which may be but is not limited to a discshape, to rotate to position an unused penetrating member into contactwith the gripper block 1160. Vertically separating the parts allows thecartridge 1173 to be rotated without the gripper block 1160 interfering.In other embodiments, the gripper block may be designed so that thepenetrating member has a portion that extend upward to engage thegripper block. In still other embodiments, the separation between thecartridge and the launcher may be such that gripper block remains in thecartridge but travels in a radial groove and is lifted enough to allowan unused lancet to be rotated into position. Vertical separation asshown in FIG. 112 may involve the user physically pulling the parts awayfrom each other or using cam surfaces such as those shown in FIG. 55A.

[0234] Referring now to FIG. 113, a still further embodiment is shownwhere a cartridge 1200 is shown in a cylindrical configuration. Apenetrating member driver 1202 will be used to engage the penetratingmembers in the cartridge 1200. As a nonlimiting example, the driver maybe an electromechanical device, a mechanical, spring-based device, orother actuator as described herein. Each cartridge 1200 may be rotatedclockwise or counterclockwise to position the penetrating members intoactive alignment with the driver 1202. After each cartridge 1200 isready to be disposed, it may be moved forward as indicated by arrow 1204and ejected from the sampling device. Another cartridge 1206 shown inphantom may be move forward by techniques using, but not limited to, astepper motor, mechanical slider, or gravity to replace the usedcartridge 1200. FIG. 114 shows a still further embodiment wherein thepenetrating member driver 1202 is positioned to be within the centeropening of cartridge 1200 to engage each penetrating member. As anonlimiting example, the cartridge 1200 may be advanced by a steppermotor (not shown) or a mechanical slider mechanism to position an unusedpenetrating member into alignment with the driver 1202.

[0235] Referring now to FIG. 115, the number of penetrating membersremaining in the cartridge 1210 may be determined using a variety ofdevices. The cartridge 1210 may have markings or notches 1212 detectableby device 1214 which will keep count of the number of penetratingmembers used. In other embodiments, a processor 1216 will track thenumber of actuations and use that number to determine the number ofpenetrating members that remain unused in the cartridge 1210. In such aconfiguration, the processor 1216 may assume that a new cartridge 1210will contain X number of penetrating members and each actuation willreduce the number of unused penetrating members. Each time a newcartridge 1210 is loaded, the processor will assume that there are afull X number penetrating members available. The processor 1216 may alsobe coupled to the device 1214 to determine when the cartridge 1210 isrotated. FIG. 115 also shows in phantom that a display 1218 may also beincluded to show the number of penetrating members remaining or otherapplicable variables to spring-based penetrating member driver 1220 asdisclosed in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/______ (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2634) filed Dec. 31, 2002. Thedevice may include a slider for rotating the cartridge 1210 as shown inFIG. 56A and/or buttons to adjust settings on the display. As seen inFIG. 115, a plunger 1222 (shown in phantom) may be extended to protrudeoutward from a rear portion of the housing. In some embodiment thedriver or just the plunger 1222 may extend above a top surface of thehousing as seen in FIG. 116.

[0236] Referring now to FIGS. 117 and 118, still further combinations ofmechanical and electrical actuators are shown. In one embodiment, FIG.117 shows an electric driver 1230 for advancing a gripper block orcoupler 1232 in the direction indicated by arrow 1234. A spring 1236will be extended when the gripper block 1232 is moved. The spring 1236will provide the retraction force and draw the gripper block 1232 andattached penetrating member back. In this embodiment, the electricdriver 1230 will be relaxed or turned off after actuation, thus allowingthe spring 1236 to draw the gripper block 1232 back.

[0237]FIG. 118 shows another embodiment where, in the launchconfiguration, the spring 1236 is extended and the electric driver 1240is in a forward position. From this forward position, the driver 1240may advance the penetrating member 1020 into targeted tissue. Afterreaching desired depth, a trigger 1242 will release the driver 1240 andpull the entire driver 1240 and penetrating member 1020 in the directionindicated by arrow 1244. In some embodiments, this withdrawal motion mayoccur prior to the electric driver finishing its forward stroke.

[0238] Referring now to FIGS. 119 and 120, further embodiments of thepresent invention are shown where the depth of penetration into tissuemay be set, in part, using a front end apparatus 1250. The front endapparatus 1250 is rotated as indicated by arrow 1252. Rotation in eitherdirection will adjust the vertical separation 1254. This verticalseparation 1254 will change how close tissue may be placed against thesampling device. The greater the vertical separation 1254, the less thepenetrating member will protrude outward, and the less the penetrationdepth. FIG. 120 shows an embodiment where the front end apparatus 1250is recessed. This front end apparatus 1250 may be used with any of thepenetrating member drivers described herein.

[0239] Referring now to FIG. 121, a still further aspect of a drivemechanism according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 121shows a cam groove 1260 that is followed by penetrating member driver.As a nonlimiting example, the driver may be a spring based device. Thedriver has a protrusion or follower that will follow the path providedby the cam groove 1260 to provide a desired velocity profile. One knowndevice which also uses a cam groove is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,318,584, fully incorporated herein by reference. The follower 1262indicated by a circle will follow the groove downward on the inboundstroke portion 1264. After reaching maximum penetration, the follower1262 will travel along the return portion 1266. This return portion willprovide a slower return velocity as the groove 1260 is configured at ashallow slope that requires the follower 1262 to follow a longer paththat may bring the follower around the backside of the cylinder asindicated by arrow 1268. This profile can provide a fast-in, slow-outvelocity profile desired by some embodiments of the present invention.As a nonlimiting example, the return velocity may be ½, ¼, or any otherfraction, percentage or portion of the inbound velocity.

[0240] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the currentengine functions as a variable reluctance device and may be composed ofan electronic drive unit or solenoid, an optical position sensor and amechanism to couple the whole to the lancet. As a nonlimiting example,the penetrating member actuator may comprise of 2×6800 mF capacitors, aCR 123A 3V lithium primary battery, and a 5-coil solenoid of 30 G wire.In this embodiment, there is one circuit board, which contains aprocessor (MPS430) for controlling the user interface, and anotherprocessor (SX 28) controlling the drive coils. The penetrating membermay be driven by a series of solenoid coils (of which currently thereare five in this embodiment), which are enclosed in a coil pack andsurround the coupler shaft proximally to the penetrating member. Amagnetic bead or “slug” may be attached to the coupler shaft and isconfigured to slide within the axial lumen of the driver coils. Thedriver coils are made of windings of copper wire, such as but notlimited to about 32 gauge. The coils or “solenoids” drive thepenetrating member using either magnetic attraction or repulsion of theslug.

[0241] Several possibilities exist for modification of the currentsolenoid drive. The specific advantages to be achieved are a reductionin size, and increase in efficiency, thus reducing power consumptionrequirements during the lancing process.

[0242] In one embodiment of the solenoid according to the presentinvention, a five-coil configuration was conceived because of a desiredstroke distance of 8 mm determined from a displacement range needed tocover the sum of thick stratum corneum (up to 600 mm), tenting of about1 mm or more and a maximum penetration of up to about 3.5 mm andacceleration distance enough to reach about 10 m/s. Stroke may bespecified as the total displacement from one end of travel to the otherend, or as a plus/minus (±) displacement from mid-stroke reference.Since these experiments were carried out it has been determined throughpatient testing in the lab that shallow lancing to about 1 mm may besufficient to obtain the volumes of blood required to fill a samplechamber of 0.5 mL or less. Stroke distance, in such an embodiment, cantherefore be reduced to (maximum tenting+depth+thickest stratumcorneum=1 mm+1 mm+0.6 mm) 2.6 mm without consequence. This could reducethe number of coils in the system, reducing the size of the device andtherefore lowering cost. It does require a slightly “fatter” set ofcoils since more turns may be used to maintain the drive power as wellas a change in the slug size (longer) to reach the new spacing distance,but overall size should decrease.

[0243] In another embodiment of the solenoid, the flat coil embodimentwas initially proposed as the first approach for driving the lancetelectronically. In one embodiment, it uses a metal flag be attached tothe penetrating member shaft to drive the lancet rather than a metal“slug”. This is somewhat disadvantageous to using bare penetratingmembers. The motivation for the flat coil configuration wasminiaturization of the driver so as to fit in to a handheld glucosespot-monitoring device. Manufacturing of the coils can be by multi-layerprinted circuit board (PCB) so it is straightforward. Such an embodimentis shown in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 38187-2551.

[0244] In yet another embodiment of the solenoid, the multi-coilpenetrating member driver with programmable excitation of the variousenergizing coils acting on a movable soft-iron “slug” works by timingthe excitation of the various coils to provide motion in the desireddirection. In some known configurations, there may be a series of stable“dead points” where the slug remains stationary unless the local coil isde-energized and the next coil is energized. This can create aninefficient “bumpy” force profile. The “rail-gun” approach provides acoil configuration for continuous (as opposed to step-wise) accelerationof the magnetic slug. It creates the required inhomogeneous magnet fieldto propel the slug and the attached lancet at a progressively increasingspeed towards the target. At no point does the magnetic field of thecoil oppose the desired motion of the slug. It facilitates the “fastentry—delay—slow retraction” mode of operation for minimum pain andmaximum blood recovery. The coil could be wound with an increasingnumber of turns from the start point to the end point creating therequired non-uniform magnetic field profile. A second coil could bewound in the remaining “free” space with increasing turns from theinsertion point to the fully retracted point to implement retraction ofthe lancet, preferably at slow speed, using a weaker current feed. Thiseconomizes on electric drive power demand and uses the available spaceto the best advantage. Any desired time-dependent-profile could beachieved with spatially uniform winding geometry and a programmabletime-dependent current feed with current increasing with time forinsertion, but decreasing with time for retraction

[0245] The excitation coils may also be divided into a set of adjacentsmaller coils fed with increasing currents from start point to endpoint, either according to position or as an increasing function oftime. Continuous acceleration (as opposed to a step-wise drive withseparate coils in the prior-art multi-coil device) may favor long slincoil geometry. One practical advantage is simplicity: in the basicembodiment no electronic control circuitry is required,just a simpleon-off current switching control. However it allows electronic controlto be added to determine penetration depth, using appropriate depthsensing and feedback. A fail-safe feature would be to feed theretraction coil with a weak continuous current to ensure that the lancetis always returned to the start position (full retraction). Thesoft-iron slug attached to the penetrating member may be replaced by asmall permanent magnet attached to the penetrating member. Additionaldisclosure can be found in commonly assigned copending U.S. patentapplication Attorney Docket No. 38187-2551, incorporated herein byreference.

[0246] In another embodiment, slug shaping is based on the goal ofincreasing the force or efficiency of the coils by sculpting or changingthe profile of the slug. The chisel point slug also fits in thiscategory. The net result may be to reduce the size of the coil driver.

[0247] In one other embodiment, having two slugs in the field ratherthan one might increase the sensitivity to position and would requirehalf of the energy. In addition large variations in force could beavoided making the control system more predictable and stable.

[0248] In yet another embodiment using a high voltage drive, this is asize reduction play by substituting the two-capacitor drive with asingle smaller capacitor. The rationale for the dual capacitor drive isthat the resistance drops for the two capacitors in parallel and thecirculating currents in the coils should be reduced. Substitution of asingle capacitor will result in an increase in resistance and hence thecurrent requirement goes up and therefore there is a loss of efficiencyof charge storage because of the increase in the voltage drop.

[0249] In a further aspect of the present invention, a mechanicalinbound/electric withdrawal configuration may be used for penetratingmember actuation and withdrawal. FIG. 122 shows such an embodiment.Cheap mechanical actuation such as spring or cam drives 1300 may besupplemented by electronic withdrawal device 1310 for slow outretraction of the penetrating member 1020. All of the embodiments belowcan be hybridized with a mechanical spring or cam driven inboundactuation. The mechanical inbound drives 1300 may be used with a softbraking mechanism such as but not limited to a soft stop 1312 or anyother damping device disclosed herein or known to one of skill in theart. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 122, the withdrawal device 1310 maybe used to move the entire carrier 1314 having the mechanical inbounddrive 1300. The use of electric withdrawal of a penetrating member 1020from the anatomical feature at velocity less than that on the inboundmay be used to increase the likelihood spontaneous fluid generation froma wound created in the feature. These components may all be contained ina housing 1320 (shown in phantom) that may optionally include anadjustable front end 1322 for adjusting depth of penetrating memberpenetration.

[0250] Referring now to FIG. 123, the device 1310 is not coupled to thecarrier 1314. It maybe used to withdraw the spring launched penetratingmember 1020 as indicated by arrow 1324. This allows the spring device tobe pulled back and in some embodiments, reset for the next lancingevent. It should be understood that the soft stop 1312 may also beconfigured to be on both sides of the penetrating member as shown inFIG. 122.

[0251] In one embodiment of the present invention, a DC Gear motor maybe used as the device 1310. In an embodiment similar that shown in FIG.102, spring actuation or dashpot can be used for the inbound and thespring stays compressed against the dashpot. The motor 1042 drags thedashpot back and compresses the spring on its way. It can even re-cockthe spring. This is a small DC motor with a speed reducing gear head.The DC motor can drive a jackscrew such that the withdrawal can beachieved in small steps as required by switching the motor on and off(see 1042). Position feedback may be used for better control. Thesemotors are cheap and mass manufactured for cameras, toys and thereforethis would be a cost reduction play.

[0252] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a steppermotor may also be used as the device 1310. The stepper motor can replacethe gear motor and tend to run at a lower speed. It can run open loop sothat position feedback would not be required. These motors are preciseand would give a more compact package and better control method. In yetanother embodiment of the present invention, a inductive motor may beused. This was the very first concept investigated for driving thelancet due to its ability to move penetrating members at high speeds andlarge throw. Unfortunately it is not very efficient due hystereticlosses, and the control problem is complicated.

[0253] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a nanomusclemay be used as device 1310. Nanomuscle actuators are based on shapememory alloys, that, when heated, their crystalline structures changeand this result in mechanical contraction. Current is passed through thealloys to heat them. They claim to be over five times more efficientthan a DC micro actuator of the equivalent size, faster and lighter. Inone embodiment, they are about the size of a paperclip and are capableof 1,000,000 actuations. There are also supposed to produce rated forceover their entire trajectory and allow position, speed and force to becontrolled. In one embodiment, the extent of the nanomuscle stroke isabout 4.0 mm, which should be enough to cover shallow lancing depth fora range of skin types. For a higher displacement or throw, severalnano-muscles could be placed in series, thus raising the cost. Powerconsumption in the nanomuscle actuator is much less on the retractionphase than the actuation phase, which is why these devices weresuggested for lancet withdrawal.

[0254] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a liquidmagnetic coil may be used as device 1310. Energy stored in a compressedspring, gas, or other means is released to actuate a penetrating membertowards the skin or an anatomical feature. In one nonlimiting example,the velocity trajectory of the penetrating member is controlled by aniron-loaded fluid that changes viscosity in response to an imposedmagnetic field. The current can be switched on when a desired slowing inthe spring withdrawal (or inbound trajectory—see below for details anddrawing) to produce a controlled withdrawal profile. The withdrawalprofile could be computer controlled so that switching on the fieldoccurs in a specified pattern to simulate the best profile.

[0255] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, aelectromechanical hybrid may be used. As a nonlimiting example, cheapelectronic drive for inbound (hybrid spring and magnetic fluid),combined with cheap electronic for withdrawal using the same hybriddesign may be a way to design a cost effective device with performancerequirements to achieve low pain and spontaneity. Alternatively a motorcan be used to control the retraction rate of the lancet from the skinif it is more cost effective or performs better on the withdrawal phase.Many miniaturized motors tested have been deficient in either theinbound speed or the throw, so it may be that two different engine typeswill have to be contemplated to achieve the speed and throw of thecurrent design.

[0256] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a hybridliquid magnetic coil may be used. A version of the hybridelectromechancial device for both actuation and retraction is shownbelow. The electromagnetic field generator 1052 is coupled to a powersource 1054 controlled by a processor 1012.

[0257] Some embodiments of the present invention may also be configuredto use a mechanical inbound with slow mechanical withdrawal or outbounddevice. As a nonlimiting example similar to that used with a cassetteplayer lid, a dashpot device and would be coupled with a spring. This isa WYSIWYG system, so withdrawal will be at a (uncontrolled) uniformrate. No user definable withdrawal profile is the disadvantage of thisset up.

[0258] In another nonlimiting example, a wax or other material with highthermal coefficient of expansion could be heated. As it expands anddisplaces a piston, it is coupled to a mechanism to withdraw the lancet.Similar to nanomuscle in actuation by heating.

[0259] In a still further nonlimiting example, a piezo electric bendingmechanism may be used. There are electromechanical transducers thatpossess high motion and voltage sensitivity. Generally in motorapplications two piezoelectric sheets are bonded together, one layerexpands laterally and the other layer contracts when an electric fieldis applied. The opposing strains result in a deflection, which isproportional to the applied voltage, generating a displacement at lowlevels of electrical drive.

[0260] In a still further nonlimiting example, a traction drive may beused. A spinning rubber tire running at constant speed driven by DCmotor drives a flat plate in contact with its outer circumference towithdraw the lancet and compressing the actuation spring This can beused in the same manner to actuate as well as withdraw the device.

[0261]FIG. 124 shows a schematic view of a penetrating member driver1350 where the drive may be, but is not limited to, a nanomuscle, aliquid magnetic coil actuation, a stepper motor, a micro-clutch device,and an inductive motor. The driver 1350 may be used to provide bothinbound and outbound motion for the penetrating member 1020 attached toa coupler 1034.

[0262] Referring now to FIGS. 125 and 126, embodiments of the presentinvention may comprise kits containing any of the penetrating memberactuators 1430 disclosed herein. The kit may further includeinstructions for use IFU setting forth any of the methods describedabove. Optionally, the kit may further comprise a cartridge containing aplurality of penetrating members. The cartridge 1432 may be of any ofthe embodiments disclosed herein. Usually, the kit components will bepackaged together in a pouch P or other conventional medical devicepackaging, such as a box, tray, tube, or the like. In many embodiments,the cartridge will be disposable. The cartridge 1432 may itself becontained in a separate pouch or container and then inserted into thecontainer P. In some embodiments, the IFU may be printed on thecontainer P. In a nonlimiting example, the container P may only containan actuator 1430, without the cartridge 1432.

[0263] Referring now to FIG. 125, embodiments of the present inventionmay include kits that only include a cartridge 1432. IFU may also beincluded. In some embodiments, a plurality of cartridges 1432 (shown inphantom) may be included. Any of the elements in these figures or otherelements described in this application may be placed in the container P,singly or in any combination. It should also be understood that thecartridges maybe of any shape as disclosed herein and are not limited todisc shaped embodiments.

[0264] While the invention has been described and illustrated withreference to certain particular embodiments thereof, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that various adaptations, changes,modifications, substitutions, deletions, or additions of procedures andprotocols may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example, with any of the above embodiments, the locationof the penetrating member drive device may be varied, relative to thepenetrating members or the cartridge. With any of the above embodiments,the penetrating member tips may be uncovered during actuation (i.e.penetrating members do not pierce the penetrating member enclosure orprotective foil during launch). With any of the above embodiments, thepenetrating members may be a bare penetrating member during launch. Withany of the above embodiments, the penetrating members may be barepenetrating members prior to launch as this may allow for significantlytighter densities of penetrating members. In some embodiments, thepenetrating members may be bent, curved, textured, shaped, or otherwisetreated at a proximal end or area to facilitate handling by an actuator.The penetrating member may be configured to have a notch or groove tofacilitate coupling to a gripper. The notch or groove may be formedalong an elongate portion of the penetrating member. With any of theabove embodiments, the cavity may be on the bottom or the top of thecartridge, with the gripper on the other side. In some embodiments,analyte detecting members may be printed on the top, bottom, or side ofthe cavities. The front end of the cartridge maybe in contact with auser during lancing. The same driver may be used for advancing andretraction of the penetrating member. The penetrating member may have adiameters and length suitable for obtaining the blood volumes describedherein. The penetrating member driver may also be in substantially thesame plane as the cartridge. The driver may use a through hole or otheropening to engage a proximal end of a penetrating member to actuate thepenetrating member along a path into and out of the tissue.

[0265] Any of the features described in this application or anyreference disclosed herein may be adapted for use with any embodiment ofthe present invention. For example, the devices of the present inventionmay also be combined for use with injection penetrating members orneedles as described in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/127,395 (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2551) filedApr. 19, 2002. An analyte detecting member to detect the presence offoil may also be included in the lancing apparatus. For example, if acavity has been used before, the foil or sterility barrier will bepunched. The analyte detecting member can detect if the cavity is freshor not based on the status of the barrier. It should be understood thatin optional embodiments, the sterility barrier may be designed to piercea sterility barrier of thickness that does not dull a tip of thepenetrating member. The lancing apparatus may also use improved drivemechanisms. For example, a solenoid force generator may be improved totry to increase the amount of force the solenoid can generate for agiven current. A solenoid for use with the present invention may havefive coils and in the present embodiment the slug is roughly the size oftwo coils. One change is to increase the thickness of the outer metalshell or windings surround the coils. By increasing the thickness, theflux will also be increased. The slug may be split; two smaller slugsmay also be used and offset by ½ of a coil pitch. This allows more slugsto be approaching a coil where it could be accelerated. This createsmore events where a slug is approaching a coil, creating a moreefficient system.

[0266] In another optional alternative embodiment, a gripper in theinner end of the protective cavity may hold the penetrating memberduring shipment and after use, eliminating the feature of using thefoil, protective end, or other part to retain the used penetratingmember. Some other advantages of the disclosed embodiments and featuresof additional embodiments include: same mechanism for transferring theused penetrating members to a storage area; a high number of penetratingmembers such as 25, 50, 75, 100, 500, or more penetrating members may beput on a disk or cartridge; molded body about a lancet becomesunnecessary; manufacturing of multiple penetrating member devices issimplified through the use of cartridges; handling is possible of barerods metal wires, without any additional structural features, to actuatethem into tissue; maintaining extreme (better than 50 micron—lateral—andbetter than 20 micron vertical) precision in guiding; and storage systemfor new and used penetrating members, with individual cavities/slots isprovided. The housing of the lancing device may also be sized to beergonomically pleasing. In one embodiment, the device has a width ofabout 56 mm, a length of about 105 mm and a thickness of about 15 mm.Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention may be used withnon-electrical force generators or drive mechanism. For example, thepunch device and methods for releasing the penetrating members fromsterile enclosures could be adapted for use with spring based launchers.The gripper using a frictional coupling may also be adapted for use withother drive technologies.

[0267] Still further optional features may be included with the presentinvention. For example, with any of the above embodiments, the locationof the penetrating member drive device may be varied, relative to thepenetrating members or the cartridge. With any of the above embodiments,the penetrating member tips may be uncovered during actuation (i.e.penetrating members do not pierce the penetrating member enclosure orprotective foil during launch). The penetrating members may be a barepenetrating member during-launch. The same driver may be used foradvancing and retraction of the penetrating member. Different analytedetecting members detecting different ranges of glucose concentration,different analytes, or the like may be combined for use with eachpenetrating member. Non-potentiometric measurement techniques may alsobe used for analyte detection. For example, direct electron transfer ofglucose oxidase molecules adsorbed onto carbon nanotube powdermicroelectrode may be used to measure glucose levels. In someembodiments, the analyte detecting members may formed to flush with thecartridge so that a “well” is not formed. In some other embodiments, theanalyte detecting members may formed to be substantially flush (within200 microns or 100 microns) with the cartridge surfaces. In all methods,nanoscopic wire growth can be carried out via chemical vapor deposition(CVD). In all of the embodiments of the invention, preferred nanoscopicwires may be nanotubes. Any method useful for depositing a glucoseoxidase or other analyte detection material on a nanowire or nanotubemay be used with the present invention. Additionally, for someembodiments, any of the cartridge shown above may be configured withoutany of the penetrating members, so that the cartridge is simply ananalyte detecting device. Still further, the indexing of the cartridgemay be such that adjacent cavities may not necessarily be used seriallyor sequentially. As a nonlimiting example, every second cavity may beused sequentially, which means that the cartridge will go through tworotations before every or substantially all of the cavities are used. Asanother nonlimiting example, a cavity that is 3 cavities away, 4cavities away, or N cavities away may be the next one used. This mayallow for greater separation between cavities containing penetratingmembers that were just used and a fresh penetrating member to be usednext. It should be understood that the spring-based drivers shown in thepresent invention (FIGS. 98-112) may be adapted for use with any of thecartridges shown herein such as, but not limited to, those shown inFIGS. 61 and 62. These spring-based drivers may also be paired withgripper blocks that are configured to penetrate into cartridges thatfully seal penetrating member therein, in order engage those penetratingmembers. The start and end positions of the penetrating members may alsobe the same. The penetrating members may be parked in a holder beforeactuation, and in some embodiments, into a holder after actuation (asseen in cartridge 500 or any other cartridge herein). Embodiments of thepresent invention may also include guides which provide lateralconstraints and/or vertical constraints about penetrating member. Theseconstraints may be positioned about the shaft portions of thepenetrating member.

[0268] This application cross-references commonly assigned copendingU.S. patent applications Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No.38187-2606) filed Dec. 18, 2002; commonly assigned copending U.S. patentapplications Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2607) filed Dec.18, 2002; and commonly assigned copending U.S. patent applications Ser.No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 38187-2608) filed Dec. 18, 2002. Thisapplication is also related to commonly assigned copending U.S. patentapplications Ser. Nos. ______ (Attorney Docket Nos. 38187-2633 through38187-2652) filed Dec. 31, 2002. All applications listed above are fullyincorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Expected variationsor differences in the results are contemplated in accordance with theobjects and practices of the present invention. It is intended,therefore, that the invention be defined by the scope of the claimswhich follow and that such claims be interpreted as broadly as isreasonable.

What is claimed is:
 1. A body fluid sampling device using a penetratingmember to extract fluid from an anatomical feature, said devicecomprising: a penetrating member actuator for moving the penetratingmember inbound towards the anatomical feature; and a non-spring based,penetrating member retractor for moving said penetrating member outboundaway from the anatomical feature; wherein said penetrating memberactuator is adapted to move said penetrating member at a velocitygreater than a velocity achieved by the penetrating member retractor. 2.The device of claim 1 wherein the penetrating member actuator uses aspring to move said penetrating member.
 3. The device of claim 1 whereinthe penetrating member retractor uses one of the following to move saidpenetrating member: a motor and gear box, a nanomuscle, pneumaticdevice, a liquid magnetic coil actuation, a stepper motor, amicro-clutch device, and an inductive motor.
 4. The device of claim 1further comprising a plurality of penetrating members arranged in aradial configuration.
 5. The device of claim 1 further comprising aplurality of penetrating members arranged in a radial configuration on adisc, with distal tips of said penetrating members pointed radiallyoutward.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein said penetrating memberactuator include a gripper block shaped to extend into a cartridgecontaining said penetrating member in order to engage said penetratingmember.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said penetrating memberactuator includes a portion for breaking a seal on a cartridgecontaining said penetrating members, said portion breaking said seal toallow the actuator to engage the penetrating member.
 8. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising at least one guide bearing in said cartridgefor providing support in at least one of the following: lateral guidanceor vertical guidance.
 9. The device of claim 1 further comprising aslidable cutter for removing a seal on a cartridge prior to penetratingmember actuation.
 10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a dampercoupled to a coupler attaching the penetrating member to a penetratingmember actuator.
 11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a damperfor slowing said penetrating member prior to said penetrating memberreaching a hard stop.
 12. The device of claim 1 further comprising adamper coupled to a drive shaft of the penetrating member actuator. 13.The device of claim 1 further comprising a damper for slowing thepenetrating member on the inbound direction, said damper selected fromone of the following: a pneumatic damper, a fluid piston, a rubber stop,a frictional surface, a magnetic fluid based damper, or a rheoneticfluid based damper.
 14. The device of claim 1 further comprising anoptically reflective member coupled to a drive shaft of the penetratingmember actuator, said optically reflective member used for determiningthe positioning.
 15. The device of claim 1 further comprising apenetrating member coupler attached to the actuator and the retractor.16. The device of claim 1 further comprising a cartridge containing aplurality of penetrating members.
 17. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising a cartridge containing a plurality of penetrating members.18. The device of claim 1 further comprising a drive shaft coupled tothe penetrating member actuator and a penetrating member coupler. 19.The device of claim 1 further comprising a carrier coupled to saidretractor and movable between a first position and a second position,said penetrating member actuator mounted on the carrier and movable withthe carrier.
 20. The device of claim 1 further comprising a frictiondamper having a plunger, said damper having a lumen with a funnel shapedportion and an elongate portion, said plunger sized to engage saidelongate portion to provide damping.
 21. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising a friction damper on said carrier for slowing saidpenetrating member, said friction damper shaped to provide variableresistance based on the position of a penetrating member coupler. 22.The device of claim 1 further comprising a reset latch coupled to saidcarrier, said reset latch holding a penetrating member coupler in placewhile the drive is compressed.
 23. A body fluid sampling device forextracting bodily fluid from an anatomical feature, said devicecomprising: a cartridge having a plurality of cavities; a plurality ofpenetrating members, each slidably movable between a first position anda second position to extend outward from said cartridge to penetrate theanatomical feature; and a penetrating member driver structured toselectively and independently engage said penetrating members, saiddriver comprising a first resilient member for moving an active one ofthe penetrating members on an inbound path toward the anatomical featureto create a wound, and a second resilient member for moving the activeone of the penetrating members on an outbound path away from the wound.24. The device of claim wherein said cartridge is disc shaped.
 25. Thedevice of claim wherein the first resilient member comprises a spring.26. The device of claim wherein the second resilient member comprises aspring.
 27. The device of claim further comprising a damper coupled tosaid penetrating member driver.
 28. The device of claim furthercomprising a plurality of sample chambers on said cartridge.
 29. Thedevice of claim 13 wherein said sample chamber is sized to hold no morethan I microliter.
 30. A body fluid sampling device using a penetratingmember to extract fluid from an anatomical feature, said devicecomprising: a penetrating member driver, said driver selected from oneof the following: a motor and gear box, a nanomuscle, pneumatic device,a liquid magnetic coil actuation device, a stepper motor, a micro-clutchdevice, and an inductive motor; a penetrating coupler attached to saiddriver, said coupler for releasably connecting the penetrating member tothe driver.